"It's Almost Like a Crab-in-a-Barrel Situation": Stigma, Social Support, and Engagement in Care Among Black Men Living With HIV. AIDS Educ Prev 2018 Apr;30(2):120-136
Date
04/25/2018Pubmed ID
29688770Pubmed Central ID
PMC5921935DOI
10.1521/aeap.2018.30.2.120Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85046091992 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 23 CitationsAbstract
Social support is associated with improved health outcomes for people living with HIV (PLWH), including initiation and engagement in HIV care and antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence. Yet, stigma may negatively affect the availability and utilization of social support networks, especially among African American PLWH, subsequently impacting HIV care and health out-comes. This qualitative study examines the relationship between stigma and social support relationships among African American PLWH. We conducted 23 interviews with Black men living with HIV who reported being out of care or non-adherent to ART. Thematic content analysis revealed three primary themes including variation in social support, experiences of stigma and discrimination, and coping mechanisms used to deal with stigma. Findings reveal that although social support may be protective for some men, many African American PLWH face challenges in harnessing and sustaining needed social support, partly due to stigma surrounding HIV and homo-sexuality.
Author List
Quinn K, Dickson-Gomez J, Broaddus M, Kelly JAAuthors
Julia Dickson-Gomez PhD Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of WisconsinJeffrey A. Kelly PhD Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Katherine Quinn PhD Associate Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Adaptation, PsychologicalAdult
Animals
Anti-Retroviral Agents
Female
HIV Infections
Health Services Accessibility
Health Status Disparities
Healthcare Disparities
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Male
Medication Adherence
Middle Aged
Qualitative Research
Social Stigma
Social Support
Wisconsin
