Recommendations From Black Sexual Minority Men: Building Trust to Improve Engagement and Impact of HIV/STI Research

2020 ◽  
pp. 152483992094767
Author(s):  
Suzanne M. Grieb ◽  
Kevon-Mark Jackman ◽  
Carla Tilchin ◽  
Charles Clark ◽  
Simone Sawyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Engagement ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Trust Building ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Action Strategies ◽  
Minority Men

As demonstrated by the consistently documented disproportionately high rates of HIV and STIs (sexually transmitted infections) among Black sexual minority men (BSMM), current efforts to develop responsive interventions to reduce HIV and other STIs within this population have not been sufficient. It is therefore critical that public health researchers reflect meaningfully on the ways in which they investigate HIV and STIs. Engagement with BSMM is crucial in addressing the disproportionately high rates of HIV and STIs experienced, and thus the goal of the current research was to identify community-developed strategies that may enhance community engagement in research with BSMM. Seven focus groups ( N = 38) were held with cisgender BSMM ages 18 to 45 years in Baltimore, Maryland to explore how to better engage this population and improve HIV and STI research. Data analysis of the text was conducted using an iterative, thematic constant comparison process informed by grounded theory. Four distinct themes related to trust-building within the broader community emerged: (1) authentic engagement with the community, (2) increased transparency of the research process, (3) capacity building of research staff from the community, and (4) a balance of research and action. Strategies for researchers to build community trust were identified that are related to, but slightly distinct from, common discussions in the community engaged research literature that are centered more specifically on trust-building within community–academic partnerships. Engagement with BSMM is crucial in addressing HIV and STI health disparities. It is critical that community engagement also be a priority to policy makers, research institutions, and funding institutions.

scholarly journals Venturing beyond the “Behavioural MSM”: Sex, Chems, & Satisfaction in their Syndemic Contexts

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Sexual Behaviour ◽  
Minority Stress ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Steady Partner ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Minority Men

BACKGROUND: The health and well-being of those sexual-minority men who are often behaviourally defined as men who have sex with men (MSM) is affected by a system of interlinked factors that interact on the structural, interpersonal, and individual levels. Recently, two of the most common MSM health issues have been (a) the risks of acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs), mostly HIV, and (b) the sexualized use of addictive substances, known as chemsex. AIMS: On the basis of the first comprehensive Czech dataset to integrate several mutually interlinked factors on the behavioural, as well as the psychological and structural domains, we attempt to shed light on the barriers to HIV testing and adherence to safer sex practices, including the most thorough description of the chemsex phenomenon that is available. We aim to go beyond the behavioural perspective and draw links to the well-being and satisfaction of this sexual minority and their sex lives. METHODS: A series of descriptive statistical analyses was conducted on a sample of 547 respondents obtained within a self-administered online survey. RESULTS: More than half of our respondents (55%) and three-quarters (72%) of the men younger than 25 years have never been tested for HIV. One-third of the respondents considered testing services to be insufficiently friendly to gay, bisexual, or other men, and they also reported stigmatization and discrimination by healthcare workers as a problem that exists. 84% of the MSM have experience with anal sex; 43% of them always use condoms. Of all the respondents, nearly 6% have had at least one chemsex experience during their life. Only 46% of the MSM reported being satisfied with their sex lives; 52% of those who were dissatisfied attributed this to “not having a steady partner” and 49% to “not having any sex”. CONCLUSION: The sexual behaviour of MSM and their experience with HIV testing, chemsex, perceived stigma, and satisfaction with their sex lives are among the phenomena that deserve to be more regularly covered by relevant epidemiological examinations. Although our current analysis was more exploratory than in-depth, it may contribute to a better understanding of the syndemic and multifactorial conditions that influence the sexual behaviour of MSM, including the minority stress that may be rooted in deficiencies in our understanding of these populations.

Transdiagnostic Approaches to Improve Sexual Minority Individuals’ Co-occurring Mental, Behavioral, and Sexual Health

2019 ◽  
pp. 457-476
Author(s):  
Craig Rodriguez-Seijas ◽  
Charles L. Burton ◽  
John E. Pachankis
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Minority Stress ◽  
Psychosocial Health ◽  
Illustrative Case ◽  
Sexual Minority Women ◽  
Stress Theory ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Minority Men ◽  
And Gender

Sexual and gender minority individuals are at elevated risk of many adverse psychosocial health outcomes, including mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders, as well as suicidality and sexually transmitted infections. Despite greater utilization of mental health services, there remain few evidence-based approaches specifically tailored for sexual minority individuals and even fewer that are designed to explicitly address the multiple co-occurring conditions that afflict this group. This chapter describes one such approach, rooted in minority stress theory, that has been shown to empirically address the multitude of problematic outcomes and behaviors among sexual minority men and is currently being developed for sexual minority women. The chapter begins by describing the theoretical underpinnings of this therapeutic approach, subsequently providing a description of the major principles underlying this intervention. This chapter ends with an illustrative case example taken from the current clinical trials of this treatment program.

scholarly journals LGBTQ Health and Well-Being in China: A Trend Analysis of English- and Chinese-Language Research, 2011–2018

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Lin ◽  
Yijun Cheng ◽  
Tonda L. Hughes ◽  
Cindy Veldhuis
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Coming Out ◽  
English Language ◽  
Chinese Language ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Sexual Minority Women ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Minority Men

Purpose: Research on LGBTQ populations has dramatically increased in both Western and non-Western countries over the past several decades. Attempts to synthesize this research have largely focused on studies conducted in the West. We conducted a review of LGBTQ research in China to elucidate trends and gaps in the literature and to provide a foundation for future research. Methods: We searched the literature to identify studies that focused on LGBTQ people in China using PsycINFO and reviews of article titles and abstracts in 15 English-language LGBTQ-specific journals published between 2011–2018. We used the Wanfang database to identify Chinese-language LGBTQ research articles published in any journal between 2011–2018. Each article was coded by topic, study type, province, and sample. Results: These searches yielded 798 LGBTQ research studies conducted in China between 2011–2018. HIV/AIDS, sexuality, and LGBTQ-specific issues (e.g., coming out) have been most frequently studied. Most of the articles focused on sexual minority men (69.5%), with smaller proportions focused on sexual minority women (15.5%) or transgender individuals (2.6%). The disparity wasreduced after excluding studies on HIV or other sexually transmitted infections. The geographic distribution of studies was uneven; most were conducted in economically developed areas. Conclusion: This study identified gaps and trends in LGBTQ research in China and highlighted priority and under-researched topics to guide future LGBTQ research. More research on these understudied populations and topics will contribute to understanding of LGBTQ populations.

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