Patterns of HIV Disclosure and its Impact on the HIV Care Continuum Among Black Men who Have Sex With Men in South Carolina

Datos Bibliográficos

ID21748861
AutoresXueying Yang (0000-0001-6788-0688, University of South Carolina, autor de correspondencia), Titilayo James (0000-0002-2974-9571, University of South Carolina), Titilayo A James (University of South Carolina), Monique J Brown (0000-0001-9552-244X, University of South Carolina), T N Brown (0000-0002-0952-3655, University of South Carolina), Tony Brown (0000-0002-6570-408X, University of South Carolina), Sydney Zarsadias (University of South Carolina), Ran Zhang (0000-0001-8483-2565, University of South Carolina), Fanghui Shi (0000-0002-5603-5398, University of South Carolina), Xaoming Li (University of South Carolina)
Año2023
Volumen17
Número3
Páginas15579883231177981-15579883231177981
Fecha de publicación2023-05-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaAmerican Journal of Men s Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1557-9883 • E-ISSN: 1557-9891
EditorialSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/15579883231177981
PMID37249084
OpenAlexW4378746156
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas4
Referencias citadas25

Addressing the psychosocial concerns of Black men who have sex with men (MSM), such as HIV disclosure, is critical for effective HIV treatment efforts. Black MSM living with HIV experience multiple psychosocial challenges, such as “triple stigma” due to their sexual orientation, racial minority status, and HIV status, which hinder their HIV disclosure and subsequent HIV care-seeking behavior. Our study sought to examine the HIV disclosure patterns and their impact on the HIV care continuum among Black MSM using a qualitative approach. Semi-structured interviews were carried out among 28 Black MSM aged ≥18 years old living in South Carolina. A thematic analysis process was employed for data analysis. The emerging themes of facilitators of HIV disclosure included the sense of personal responsibility to disclose one’s HIV status within the context of a relationship and having other family members living with HIV, while the barriers included fear of family rejection or religious reasons. A few participants preferred to disclose to friends due to the less shame in sharing their status to friends than other confidants (e.g., family members). HIV disclosure was found to be a facilitator for linkage to care and retention in care through social support obtained from disclosure confidants. Helping patients to identify a single person (e.g., family member) to share their HIV status may offer equivalent benefits to wider disclosure. Interventions occurring at multiple levels (e.g., targeting religious groups) and within multiple contexts are needed to promote HIV disclosure and improve clinical outcomes in the Black MSM community

Embarrassment · Facilitator · Family medicine · Men who have sex with men · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Psychosocial · Qualitative research · Self-disclosure · Sexual orientation · Shame · Thematic analysis · Clinical Psychology · HIV Research and Treatment · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology