College of Nursing, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA.
School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.
Int J STD AIDS. 2024 Oct;35(12):990-996. doi: 10.1177/09564624241273759. Epub 2024 Aug 20.
Considering the need to increase HIV testing among racial minority youth in the southern United States, we conducted an exploratory study in Alabama to elucidate recommendations on improving testing rates among Black young men who have sex with men (BYMSM).
We conducted in-depth interviews and focus groups with BYMSM and prevention and outreach workers. Data collection occurred online and in person between 2020-2022.
Our sample included data from = 56 BYMSM and = 12 prevention and outreach workers. BYMSMs' mean age = 24 years. Among prevention and outreach workers, 58% identified as male with mean age = 39 years; 83% identified as Black. Transcripts were coded thematically; five concurrent themes emerged from both BYMSM and prevention and outreach workers: promoting testing at younger ages, need for visibility and outreach, connecting through shared experiences, value of nonjudgmental approaches, and need to increase HIV knowledge in BYMSM.
Findings suggest that cultivating trust is salient to promoting HIV testing in BYMSM. To end the epidemic in the southern United States, a region that is heavily rural with high rates of HIV, it may be necessary to begin prevention conversations at younger ages and equip prevention and outreach workers with communication skills that leverage de-stigmatizing approaches.
考虑到需要增加美国南部少数族裔青年的 HIV 检测，我们在阿拉巴马州进行了一项探索性研究，以阐明提高与男性发生性行为的黑人年轻男性（BYMSM）检测率的建议。
我们对 BYMSM 和预防及外展工作者进行了深入的访谈和焦点小组。数据收集于 2020 年至 2022 年期间在线和亲自进行。
我们的样本包括来自 = 56 名 BYMSM 和 = 12 名预防和外展工作者的数据。BYMSM 的平均年龄为 24 岁。在预防和外展工作者中，58%的人自认为是男性，平均年龄为 39 岁；83%的人自认为是黑人。转录本进行了主题编码；来自 BYMSM 和预防及外展工作者的五个并发主题出现：在更年轻时促进检测，需要可见度和外展，通过共同的经验建立联系，非评判性方法的价值，以及需要增加 BYMSM 对 HIV 的认识。
研究结果表明，培养信任对于促进 BYMSM 的 HIV 检测至关重要。要在美国南部结束疫情，该地区是一个以农村为主、HIV 感染率高的地区，可能有必要在年轻时开始预防对话，并为预防和外展工作者提供利用去污名化方法的沟通技巧。
