title: A Mid-South Perspective: African American Faith-based Organizations, HIV, and Stigma.
abstract: Shelby County, Tennessee has the fastest growing rate of HIV infection in the state, and the majority of new infections are in African Americans. In 2011, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report stated that Memphis (the largest city in Shelby County) ranked seventh highest in new HIV infections. Little research has addressed HIV-related themes in African American culture that could hinder HIV prevention measures. Our qualitative study engaged African American, faith-based leaders in areas with high rates of HIV in meaningful conversations regarding their attitudes toward HIV and those who are infected. Although faith-based leaders felt they had a role in HIV prevention, only 4% in our study had participated in HIV prevention activities, but they were open to HIV prevention programs. We found that faith-based leaders had limited knowledge of health disparities and ongoing stigma concerning HIV, which served as a major barrier to HIV prevention.
authors.forename: Tamara D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Otey
authors.forename: Wendy Renee
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D002977:Clergy; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012067:Religion; D057545:Social Stigma; D013714:Tennessee / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: African American; HIV; faith-based leaders; faith-based organizations; implementation science; stigma