Perceived Stigma and Life Satisfaction: Experiences of Urban African American Men Living with HIV/AIDS

The purpose of this study was to investigate the experiences of African American men living with HIV/AIDS. The questions guiding the study were: (a) How do African American men incorporate HIV/AIDS into their identities? and (b) How do contexts affect the incorporation process? Data from this study was taken from a larger study concerning HIV/AIDS identity incorporation. Twelve self-identified African American men living with HIV/AIDS participated in 1.5-2 hour in-depth interviews. Participants traversed through a four or five step incorporation process. In addition, a disclosure process occurred. The contexts that influenced the incorporation process included the interpersonal context (e.g., support and stigma), sociocultural context, (e.g., race, class, sexual orientation), the temporal context (historical time), and situational context (e.g., a personal history of chemical dependency) (Ickovics, Thayaparan, & Ethier, 2001). These contexts intersected and affected participants’ integration of the HIV/AIDS identity into the self. Study findings have implications for HIV/AIDS educators and health professionals.

Download Full-text

Psychiatric disorders in African American men and women living with HIV/AIDS.

Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology ◽

10.1037/1099-9809.5.3.249 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

pp. 249-262 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Hector F. Myers ◽

Ramani S. Durvasula

Keyword(s):

African American ◽

Psychiatric Disorders ◽

African American Men ◽

Men And Women ◽

Women Living With Hiv ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

Hiv Aids

Download Full-text

Prejudicial beliefs and COVID-19 disruptions among sexual minority men living with and not living with HIV in a high SARS-CoV-2 prevalence area

Translational Behavioral Medicine ◽

10.1093/tbm/ibab050 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Seth C Kalichman ◽

Renee El-Krab ◽

Bruno Shkembi ◽

Moira O Kalichman ◽

Lisa A Eaton

Keyword(s):

African American ◽

African American Men ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Sex Partners ◽

Black African ◽

Sexual Minority Men ◽

Mediation Analyses ◽

Personal Action ◽

Male Sex ◽

Living With Hiv

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has had profound health and social impacts. COVID-19 also affords opportunities to study the emergence of prejudice as a factor in taking protective actions. This study investigated the association of COVID-19 concerns, prejudicial beliefs, and personal actions that involve life disruptions among people not living with and people living with HIV. 338 Black/African American men not living with HIV who reported male sex partners and 148 Black/African American men living with HIV who reported male sex partners completed a confidential survey that measured COVID-19 concern, COVID-19 prejudice, and personal action and institutionally imposed COVID-19 disruptions. Participants reported having experienced multiple social and healthcare disruptions stemming from COVID-19, including reductions in social contacts, canceling medical appointments, and inability to access medications. Mediation analyses demonstrated that COVID-19 concerns and COVID-19 prejudice were associated with personal action disruptions, indicating that these social processes are important for understanding how individuals modified their lives in response to COVID-19. It is imperative that public health efforts combat COVID-19 prejudice as these beliefs undermine investments in developing healthcare infrastructure to address COVID-19 prevention.

Download Full-text

Exploring Experiences and Perceptions of Older African American Males Aging With HIV in the Rural Southern United States

American Journal of Men s Health ◽

10.1177/1557988316662875 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 221-232 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Barbara J. Blake ◽

Gloria A. Jones Taylor ◽

Richard L. Sowell

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

African American ◽

Rural Communities ◽

African American Men ◽

Qualitative Content Analysis ◽

The United States ◽

Health Concern ◽

Treatment And Prevention ◽

Age Related ◽

Living With Hiv

The HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) epidemic in the United States remains a serious public health concern. Despite treatment and prevention efforts, approximately 50,000 new HIV cases are transmitted each year. Estimates indicate that 44% of all people diagnosed with HIV are living in the southern region of the United States. African Americans represent 13.2% of the United States population; however, 44% (19,540) of reported new HIV cases in 2014 were diagnosed within this ethnic group. The majority of cases were diagnosed in men (73%, 14,305). In the United States, it is estimated that 21% of adults living with HIV are 50 years or older. There exists limited data regarding how well African American men are aging with HIV disease. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of older African American men living with HIV in rural Georgia. Data were collected from 35 older African American men living with HIV using focus groups and face-to-face personal interviews. Qualitative content analysis revealed six overlapping themes: (1) Stigma; (2) Doing Fine, Most of the Time; (3) Coping With Age-Related Diseases and HIV; (4) Self-Care; (5) Family Support; and (6) Access to Resources. The findings from this study provide new insights into the lives of rural HIV-infected African American men, expands our understanding of how they manage the disease, and why many return to or remain in rural communities.

Download Full-text