Research Needed to More Effectively Combat HIV among African-American Men Who Have Sex with Men

Abstract

It is estimated that nearly half of all African-American men who have sex with men (AAMSM) living in major U.S. cities are already infected with HIV. Without a substantial and committed investment in research in HIV prevention among AAMSM and subsequent evidence-based policies and community programs, it is unlikely that we will ever be able to curtail the HIV epidemic among African Americans in general, regardless of gender, age or sexual orientation. In this paper, we briefly review what is known and what research questions remain in order to curtail the epidemic among AAMSM. Finally, we provide recommendations for future research that include the: 1) development of a national cohort of young AAMSM to prospectively study biological, behavioral, social and contextual factors that place AAMSM at risk for infection with HIV and other STDs; 2) adapting existing interventions in HIV prevention to the unique characteristics of AAMSM and evaluating their effectiveness; 3) evaluating factors such as intracommunity and familial discrimination against AAMSM that may lead to lack of disclosure; and 4) enhancing our understanding of how cultural and social factors can be used in a positive and self-affirming way to strengthen HIV prevention and care for AAMSM.

Conspiracy Beliefs About HIV Are Related to Antiretroviral Treatment Nonadherence Among African American Men With HIV

“…Intervention research is needed on effective methods to address culturally specific factors among African American men, including myths and misconceptions about HIV, as well as likely roots of mistrust, including African American men’s experiences with discrimination from HIV status, race, and homophobia (among MSM) 75. African American MSM with HIV are marginalized in mainstream, African American, and gay communities due to the intersection of three stigmatized characteristics 76.…”

Longitudinal Association of HIV Conspiracy Beliefs with Sexual Risk Among Black Males Living with HIV

“…African American men who have sex with men (MSM) have exponentially higher rates of HIV and AIDS than do individuals from other at-risk subcategories [3, 4], and are more than twice as likely to be infected with HIV than are MSM of other races/ethnicities [5]. Although a multitude of factors have been hypothesized to contribute to African American MSM’s greater vulnerability to HIV infection [6], additional research is needed to identify culturally relevant factors that may affect sexual risk.…”

Black Sexuality in the U.S.: Presentations as Non-normative

“…Most of the articles from the two databases and from the Journal of Sex Research focused on topics related to sexually transmitted infections, primarily HIV and AIDS (Andrinopoulos et al 2006;Aronowitz et al 2007;Auerswald et al 2006;Bakeman et al 2007;Berry et al 2007;Bing et al 2008;Bingham et al 2003;Bowleg 2004;Braithwaite et al 1998;Burson 1998;Cecil and Matson 2005; Centers for Disease Control andPrevention 2002, 2003;Corneille and Belgrave 2007;Coyne-Beasley and Schoenbach 2000;Crawford et al 2002;Crepaz et al 2007;Crosby et al 2000Crosby et al , 2002Crosby et al , 2003Crosby et al , 2007Dancy et al 2006;DiClemente et al 2002;Duncan et al 2002;Felton and Bartoces 2002;Ford et al 2007;Grov et al 2006;Harawa et al 2006;Hart et al 2004;Heckman et al 1999;Houlihan et al 2008;Jemmott et al 1998;Jones et al 2008a, b;Kennamer et al 2000;Kerrigan et al 2007;Kraft et al 2000;Li et al 2001Li et al , 2002Malebranche 2003;Malebranche et al 2004;Mamary et al 2007;Martinez and Hosek 2005;…”