Between two pandemics

Older, gay men's experiences across HIV/Aids and Covid-19

Bibliographic Data

ID21257879
AuthorsIngrid Handlovsky (0000-0003-4838-320X, University of Victoria, corresponding author), Tessa Wonsiak (0009-0007-8841-9090, University of Victoria), Anthony Theodore Amato (0000-0002-7978-6514, University of Victoria), Marjorie Halpin (0000-0001-9109-8290, Dalhousie University), Olivier Ferlatte (0000-0003-2721-4757, Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal), Hannah Kia (0000-0002-7830-4907)
Year2023
Volume3
Pages100233
Publication date2023-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSSM - Qualitative Research in Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2667-3215 • E-ISSN: 2667-3215
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.ssmqr.2023.100233
PMID36777813
OpenAlexW4319601264
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited45

Pandemics are a component of human life, and have had great bearing on the trajectory of human evolution. Historically, the biomedical aspects of pandemics have been overrepresented, but there is growing recognition of the degree to which pandemics are socially and culturally embedded, highlighting how virus perception is socially and politically informed. Older (50+), gay men represent a population who have experienced two global pandemics in their lifespans: HIV/AIDS and COVID-19. Although governments and health officials largely failed gay men during the HIV/AIDS pandemic, gay men represent an important source of pandemic information and their experiences have much to offer health professionals and policymakers. As such, a small but growing body of literature has compared gay men's experiences amidst the two pandemics. The current study drew on constructivist grounded theory methods to examine how living through the HIV/AIDS pandemic has influenced older gay men's perspectives of COVID-19. Twenty Canadian-based gay men aged 50+ participated in semi-structured interviews via Zoom. Analysis revealed three key processes: (1) uncertainty and the familiarity of loss, (2) witnessing pandemic inequities, and, (3) navigating constantly evolving (mis)information. We highlight the utility of this knowledge to informing future pandemic planning and policies

Disease · Pandemic · Political science · Population · Sociology · Demography · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Gender Studies · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Homelessness and Social Issues · Medicine · Psychology · Gerontology