title: The Role of the Primary Romantic Relationship in HIV Care Engagement Outcomes Among Young HIV-Positive Black Men Who Have Sex with Men.
abstract: The primary romantic relationship plays a fundamental role in health maintenance, but little is known about its role in HIV care engagement among young Black men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV. We examined how HIV care engagement outcomes (i.e., having a primary healthcare provider, receiving HIV treatment, taking antiretroviral medication, and medication adherence) vary by partnership status (single vs. concordant-positive vs. discordant) in a sample of young Black MSM living with HIV. Results showed mixed findings. Partnership status was significantly associated with HIV care engagement, even after adjusting for individual, social, and structural factors. While partnered men were consistently more likely than their single counterparts to have a regular healthcare provider, to receive recent treatment, and to have ever taken antiretroviral medication, they were less likely to report currently receiving antiretroviral therapy. Moreover, men with a discordant partner reported better adherence compared to men with a concordant or no partner. The association between partnership status and HIV care engagement outcomes was not consistent across the stages of the HIV Care Continuum, highlighting the complexity in how and why young Black men living with HIV engage in HIV healthcare. Given the social context of HIV disease management, more research is needed to explicate underlying mechanisms involved in HIV care and treatment that differ by relational factors for young Black MSM living with HIV.
authors.affiliation: Division of Prevention Science, Department of Medicine, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, 550 16th Street, 3rd Floor, 0886, San Francisco, CA, 94158-2549, USA. judy.tan@ucsf.edu.
authors.forename: Judy Y
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4414-1035
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Division of Prevention Science, Department of Medicine, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, 550 16th Street, 3rd Floor, 0886, San Francisco, CA, 94158-2549, USA.
authors.forename: Lance
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pollack
authors.affiliation: Division of Prevention Science, Department of Medicine, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, 550 16th Street, 3rd Floor, 0886, San Francisco, CA, 94158-2549, USA.
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rebchook
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Huebner
authors.affiliation: Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Agatha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eke
authors.affiliation: Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Division of Prevention Science, Department of Medicine, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, 550 16th Street, 3rd Floor, 0886, San Francisco, CA, 94158-2549, USA.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kegeles
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology*; D006678:HIV; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology; D006282:Health Personnel; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D012747:Sexual Partners
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents
keywords: HIV care engagement; Partner serostatus; Primary romantic relationship; Young Black MSM living with HIV