Examination of the Relation among Stigma, Social Support, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Treatment Adherence among African American Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) Examination of the Relation among Stigma, Social Support, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Treatment Adherence among African American Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM)
Creators: name: Maxwell, Karl David
Publisher: name: Maryland Shared Open Access Repository
Year: 2010
Subjects: ACASI
AIDS
Computer-assisted interviewing
HIV
injection drug use
risky sexual behavior

description: The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) continue to have devastating effects on the United States and the world at large. According to recent estimates, nearly 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV/AIDS. While African Americans make up only 13 percent of the U.S. population , they represent almost half of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). There is a lack of research on the implications of stigma and social support in relation to their effects on behavior among PLWHA. Stigma of HIV/AIDS is particularly recognized as a challenge in the African American community because of religious beliefs that dissuade the discussion of sexuality and sexual behavior. Gaining a better understanding of ways to address stigma should lead to targeted interventions in HIV treatment adherence. The investigator examined the relationship between social support and HIV treatment adherence among African American men who have sex with men (MSM). The investigator hypothesized that: (1) MSM with greater social support show greater HIV medication adherence; and (2) MSM with greater stigma are less adherent. The research explored the following questions: 1. What is the relationship between reported social support and adherence? 2. What is the relationship between stigma and adherence? 3. Do different types of social support have greater influence on adherence to treatment than others? 4. What is the target population's perceptions of and feelings toward social support? 5. Are there other barriers to treatment adherence unique to the target population? 6. Where does social support rank in relation to other barriers to adherence? 7. What role does public policy play in addressing adherence? Questions 1 and 2 were answered through secondary data analysis of data from self-administered surveys to HIV positive MSM receiving services through the DC Department of Health. Questions 3 through 6 were answered with six key informant interviews of HIV providers and three focus groups of African American HIV positive men. Quantitative data were analyzed through multiple regression analysis in SPSS©. Qualitative data were analyzed for themes using NVIVO©. Results supported a significant inverse relationship between stigma and treatment adherence as well as a significant positive relationship between social support and treatment adherence. Results also showed a significant inverse relationship between social interaction and doctor adherence. Qualitative findings revealed themes that supported these associations, as well recommendations for improved public policy response.