An exploratory study of community violence and HIV care engagement among Black gay and bisexual men. AIDS Care 2024 Aug;36(8):1111-1118
Date
04/23/2024Pubmed ID
38648523Pubmed Central ID
PMC11602198DOI
10.1080/09540121.2024.2331221Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85191185379 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)Abstract
This study examined the relationship between exposure to community violence and HIV care engagement among 107 Black gay or bisexual men living with HIV in Chicago. Measures assessed the importance of demographic covariates (age, annual income, health insurance status, and years living with HIV), community violence exposures, mental health, social support, in explaining variations in missed doses of antiretroviral therapy (ART) medication and missed HIV care appointments. Results showed that participants who reported higher rates of exposure to community violence were two times more likely to have missed ART doses and HIV care appointments. Participants who reported depression scores were two times more likely to have greater non-ART adherence. Finally, older participants were more likely to report fewer missed ART doses. More research is needed to clarify the mechanisms between age or depression and ART adherence given community violence exposure. Health care providers should screen for depression when attempting to promote better ART adherence and keeping HIV care appointments for Black gay and bisexual men living with HIV. Younger Black gay and bisexual men living with HIV may be more vulnerable than older men for missed ART doses and may require additional screening and follow-up.
Author List
Voisin DR, Takahashi L, Walsh JL, DiFranceisco W, Johnson A, Dakin A, Bouacha N, Brown K, Quinn KGAuthors
Katherine Quinn PhD Associate Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinJennifer L. Walsh 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
AdultAnti-HIV Agents
Chicago
Depression
HIV Infections
Humans
Male
Medication Adherence
Middle Aged
Sexual and Gender Minorities
Social Support
Violence
