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An Exploration of Syndemic Factors That Influence Engagement in HIV Care Among Black Men. Qual Health Res 2018 Jun;28(7):1077-1087

Date

02/27/2018

Pubmed ID

29478406

Pubmed Central ID

PMC5962406

DOI

10.1177/1049732318759529

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85042551427 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   38 Citations

Abstract

Syndemic theory seeks to understand the interactions and clustering of disease and social conditions and explain racial disparities in HIV. Traditionally applied to HIV risk, this study characterizes the syndemic challenges of engagement in care among Black men living with HIV and provides insight into potential HIV treatment interventions to retain vulnerable individuals in care. Interviews were conducted with 23 HIV-positive men who were either out-of-care or nonadherent to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and coded using MAXQDA qualitative software. Researchers analyzed data using thematic content analysis to identify syndemic factors associated with disengagement in care or suboptimal ART adherence among Black men. Analyses revealed the syndemic nature of four themes: intersectional stigma, depression, substance use, and poverty. Findings from this study offer numerous opportunities for intervention including social and structural-level interventions to address syndemic processes and the influence of stigma and poverty on engagement in care.

Author List

Quinn KG, Reed SJ, Dickson-Gomez J, Kelly JA

Authors

Julia Dickson-Gomez PhD Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Jeffrey 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

Adult
Anti-Retroviral Agents
Depression
HIV Infections
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Patient Acceptance of Health Care
Poverty
Qualitative Research
Social Stigma
Substance-Related Disorders
Young Adult