scholarly journals HIV Information Acquisition and Use among Young Black Men Who Have Sex with Men Who Use the Internet: A Mixed Methods Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan Threats ◽  
Keosha Bond
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Black Men ◽  
Information Acquisition ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Prevention And Treatment ◽  
Online Spaces ◽  
Sex With Men

BACKGROUND Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disproportionately affects young black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) in the United States. Electronic health (eHealth) and mobile health (mHealth) hold significant potential for supporting engagement in HIV prevention and care, and the delivery of HIV information to YBMSM. OBJECTIVE To investigate technology utilization, internet access, and HIV information acquisition and use among YBMSM. METHODS An online survey and semi-structured interviews were conducted. Survey findings informed the development of the interview guide. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the survey sample, and interview data was analyzed thematically using modified grounded theory methodologies. RESULTS Among the internet sample (N=83), the average age was 29.2 years, 41% of participants self-reported living with HIV, 43.4% were HIV-negative, and 15.6% were unsure of their HIV-status. Most participants (95%) acquired HIV information through the Internet while using a mobile phone. Online HIV information was intentionally sought from consumer health information websites (37.3%), government health information websites (30%), and social media sites (17%). Most men incidentally acquired HIV information via advertisements on social media sites and geospatial dating applications (65.39%), postings on social media sites from their online social ties (53.84%), and advertisements while browsing the Internet (48.72%). Despite the Internet being the top source of HIV information, healthcare providers were the most preferred (50.6%) and trusted (96%) source of HIV information. HIV information was used to facilitate the utilization of HIV prevention and treatment services. The qualitative sample included YBMSM across a range of ages and at different points of engagement in HIV prevention and treatment. Qualitative findings included the importance of the Internet as a primary source of HIV information. The Internet was used due to its ease of accessibility, the ability to maintain anonymity while searching for sensitive information, and to mitigate against stigma in healthcare settings. Participants used HIV information to assess their risk for HIV/AIDS, support their self-efficacy for HIV prevention and treatment, inform patient-doctor communication, and to learn about HIV prevention and treatment options. Men expressed concerns about their diminishing access to online spaces for HIV information exchange among YBMSM due to website censorship policies, and the “stigmatizing” tone of HIV information presented in mass media campaigns. CONCLUSIONS YBMSM in this sample had high utilization of the internet and mobile technologies for HIV information acquisition and use, but diminished access to their preferred and most trusted source of HIV information: healthcare providers. Future eHealth and mHealth HIV prevention and treatment interventions should support communication between patients and healthcare providers. Findings demonstrate the need for culturally appropriate HIV messaging, and online spaces for informational support exchange among YBMSM.

scholarly journals Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Uptake among Black Men Who Have Sex with Men (BMSM) in the Southern U.S.

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (18) ◽  
pp. 9715
Author(s):  
Oluwafemi Adeagbo ◽  
Sayward Harrison ◽  
Shan Qiao ◽  
Xiaoming Li
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Black Men ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Rapid Expansion ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
Hiv Incidence ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approaches ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Exposure Prophylaxis ◽  
The U.S

Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) living in the United States (U.S.) South are disproportionately affected by HIV and experience significant disparities in HIV incidence, access to HIV care, and prevention across ages and socio-economic statuses. The aim of this commentary is to critically review current literature on the state of PrEP use among BMSM in the U.S. South, including identifying barriers and facilitators to PrEP use in order to inform intervention development. Extant literature shows that despite the documented benefits of PrEP as an effective HIV-prevention method, its uptake among BMSM is limited across the U.S. South. Common barriers to PrEP uptake included stigma, homophobia, mistrust of healthcare systems, negative attitudes from healthcare providers, access and transportation issues, poverty, and misinformation about PrEP. These barriers are likely to have been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Limited access to PrEP and other HIV-prevention programs, such as HIV testing, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and condoms for BMSM are likely increase HIV incidence in this community. Moreover, the rapid expansion of telehealth services during the COVID-19 period may offer increased opportunity to scale-up PrEP through telehealth interventions, especially if in-person services remain limited due to pandemic precautions. Given the intersectional barriers that limit the access and uptake of PrEP among BMSM, we suggest that tailored programs or interventions that seek to address PrEP disparities among Southern BMSM should adopt intersectional and interdisciplinary approaches to better understand the complex challenges of scaling up PrEP. More studies are needed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on HIV-prevention services among BMSM and to understand how to co-develop—with the BMSM community and healthcare providers—culturally acceptable interventions to reduce the identified challenges using intersectional and interdisciplinary approaches.

Does Online Searching Cause or Enforce Health Information Disparity?

2013 ◽  
Vol 12 (04) ◽  
pp. 1350032 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong-Mi Kim
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Online Searching ◽  
Health Related

A growing number of people are seeking health information on the Internet. To meet demands, healthcare providers are increasingly disseminating information online. While online health information has enhanced the dissemination of health information and improved people's health-related knowledge, critics posit that such dissemination has widened knowledge disparities in health information and health benefits as a result. Drawing on existing studies, this study identified the main causes of such disparity, namely education, health literacy, computer self-efficacy (CSE) and usage of health-related social media. The finding showed that education resided at the centre of the disparity and impacted other elements. An interesting finding is although individuals possess high levels of CSE, the efficacy does not highly impact their health benefits, meaning that computer does not directly cause health information disparity but is the tool to promote health-related knowledge disparity.

Correlates of Medical Mistrust Among Minority Women at Risk for HIV and Their Networks

2021 ◽  
pp. 109019812098678
Author(s):  
Laura M. Johnson ◽  
Harold D. Green ◽  
Brandon Koch ◽  
Robert Harding ◽  
Jamila K. Stockman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Black Women ◽  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Medical Mistrust ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Prevention And Treatment ◽  
Egocentric Network ◽  
History Of ◽  
Sex With Men

Background Medical mistrust is a barrier to engaging in HIV prevention and treatment, including testing and adherence to antiretroviral therapy. Research often focuses on how race and experiences of discrimination relate to medical mistrust, overlooking the role that other characteristics may play (e.g., history of physical abuse, diagnosis of mental illness). Furthermore, studies are often restricted to samples of men who have sex with men and findings may not generalize to other at-risk groups. Aims The current study explores a range of demographic, cognitive, behavioral, and social network correlates of medical mistrust. Method This study employed an egocentric network design among a racially diverse sample of at-risk women and women in their social networks ( n = 165). Results Results from multivariable linear regressions stratified by race (Black vs. others) indicate that medical mistrust is associated with both individual-level and network-level characteristics. Across both groups, age and experiences of racial discrimination were associated with higher medical mistrust. Having a regular sex partner and having a higher proportion of network members who are family was significantly associated with medical mistrust among non-Black women. Discussion Individual-level and network-level variables were significantly associated with medical mistrust. Therefore, interventions that attempt to mitigate medical mistrust as a barrier to HIV prevention and treatment should consider how mistrust may be related to characteristics of individuals and broader contexts. Conclusion Health interventions may benefit from conceiving of medical mistrust as a complex, rational response to cumulative discriminatory life experiences and a reflection of the networks within which individuals are embedded.

scholarly journals Sexual Identity Disclosure and Awareness of HIV Prevention Methods Among Black Men Who Have Sex With Men

2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (8) ◽  
pp. 975-983 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan J. Watson ◽  
Jessica N. Fish ◽  
Aerielle Allen ◽  
Lisa Eaton
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Sexual Identity ◽  
Black Men ◽  
Identity Disclosure ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Sexual Identity Disclosure ◽  
Prevention Methods

scholarly journals High levels of mild to moderate depression among men who have sex with men and transgender women in Lima, Peru: implications for integrated depression and HIV care

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerome T. Galea ◽  
Stephanie Marhefka ◽  
Segundo R. León ◽  
Guitele Rahill ◽  
Elena Cyrus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Transgender Women ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
Depression Care ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Treatment Services ◽  
Moderate Depression ◽  
Prevention And Treatment ◽  
Patient Health ◽  
Sex With Men

ABSTRACTDepression disproportionally affects people at risk of acquiring or living with HIV and is associated with worse health outcomes; however, depression care is not routinely integrated with HIV prevention and treatment services. Selection of the best depression intervention(s) for integration depends both on the prevalence and severity of depression among potential users. To inform depression care integration in a community-based setting in Lima, Peru, we retrospectively analyzed routinely collected depression screening data from men who have sex with men and transgender women seeking HIV prevention and care services (N=185). Depression was screened for using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Prevalence of any depression (PHQ-9 ≥5) was 42% and was significantly associated with the last sexual partner being “casual” (p=0.01). Most (81%) depressive symptoms were mild to moderate (≥5 PHQ-9 ≤14). Integrating depression care with HIV prevention and treatment services in Peru should begin by implementing interventions targeting mild to moderate depression.

scholarly journals A systematic review of mHealth interventions for HIV prevention and treatment among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 1211-1220
Author(s):  
Kimberly M Nelson ◽  
Nicholas S Perry ◽  
Keith J Horvath ◽  
Laramie R Smith
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Text Messaging ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
The United States ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Targeted Prevention ◽  
Prevention And Treatment ◽  
Sex With Men

Abstract The use of mobile health (mHealth) technologies addressing HIV disparities among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) has increased. A systematic review of mHealth interventions for HIV prevention and treatment among GBMSM was conducted to summarize the current evidence and provide recommendations for future research. PRISMA guidelines were followed (PROSPERO ID: 148452). Studies identified via PubMed, PsychInfo, or Embase were included that (i) were in English, (ii) were published in a peer-reviewed journal prior to July 1, 2019, (iii) presented primary results, (iv) included only GBMSM, and (v) reported the results of an mHealth intervention (e.g., text message, phone/mobile application [app]) to improve HIV prevention or treatment outcomes. Of 1,636 identified abstracts, 16 published studies met inclusion criteria. Eleven studies were conducted in the United States. One study was a fully powered randomized controlled trial (RCT), seven were single-arm pilots with pre–post assessments, four were pilot RCTs, and four tested public health campaigns with post-assessments. Seven developed study-specific apps, five used text messaging, and four used existing social networking apps. Most (81%) targeted prevention outcomes. Nine cited a specific behavioral theory. All studies found that a mHealth approach was feasible and acceptable. All interventions provided evidence of preliminary efficacy or promising trends on primary outcomes. Although mHealth interventions for HIV prevention and treatment appear feasible and acceptable, most published studies are small pilot trials. Additional research assessing the efficacy and mechanisms of mHealth interventions is needed.

Optimization of Provider Ecosystem Through Actor-Resource Integration

2020 ◽  
pp. 103-115
Author(s):  
Mohan Tanniru
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Continuity Of Care ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Care Transition ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Post Discharge ◽  
Discharge Care ◽  
Internal Operations ◽  
Insight Into

Information technology has enabled healthcare providers such as hospitals to extend their internal operations into external facilities such as urgent and ambulatory care centers and optimizeresources in support of patient care. With the development of the internet, social media, wearables, and telehealth technologies, the potential for patient engagement in preventive and post-discharge care transition has increased. Unlike other organizations where the provider has limited insight into the customer ecosystem, hospitals, for example, have an opportunity to gain insight into the patient ecosystem and influence patient behavior while the patients are within the provider ecosystem. This chapter looks at hospital engagement with patients in two settings—the emergency room (ER) and the patient room (PR)—to illustrate both the opportunities and the strategies that can help hospitals use patient touchpoints to improve continuity of care inside and outside hospital walls.

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