A Qualitative Exploration of Various Stigmas Impacting HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Uptake Among African American Young Adults

Autor: Kerr, Jelani, Ayangeakaa, Suur, Bullock, Nana Ama Aya, Burton, Kelsey, Combs, Ryan, Harris, Lesley, Sterrett-Hong, Emma, Rozema, Isabel, Sears, Janelle, Northington, Toya
Rok vydání: 2022
Předmět:
Zdroj: Fam Community Health
ISSN: 0160-6379
Popis: BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has promise for reducing racial/ethnic HIV disparities, yet acceptance among African Americans remains low. PrEP-related stigmas may impact uptake but this is understudied. This study examines mechanisms by which stigma impacts PrEP acceptance among various priority African American populations. METHODS: Focus group data from 63 African American young adults (age 18–29 years old) in Louisville, Kentucky explores how various stigmas impact attitudes towards PrEP. Data were analyzed using grounded theory analytic techniques. RESULTS: PrEP stigma, HIV stigma, sexual behavior stigma, and homophobia/transphobia individually reduce PrEP uptake. These stigmas also interact synergistically to undermine PrEP acceptance. Key challenges resulting from various stigmas and their interactions include medical hesitancy, lack of perceived susceptibility based on gender and sexuality, the role of gender norms in HIV prevention, and deprioritizing HIV prevention due to social rejection. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions to increase awareness, destigmatize PrEP, remediate social marginalization related to identity, HIV status, and gendered perceptions of sexual risk, and more focus on diverse priority groups are needed to present PrEP as a viable HIV prevention option for African American communities. More research is needed to optimize strategies that address stigma and increase acceptance of novel HIV prevention technologies.
Databáze: OpenAIRE