Objective: The World Health Organization approved HIV self-test (HIVST) to break the barriers to HIV testing. Black men who have sex with men (Black MSM) in the United States are less likely to test for HIV or link to care due to several factors, such as stigma and distance. We explored Black MSM's knowledge of HIVST and their willingness to use a mobile application (mHealth) to link to HIV care and engage with health providers.
Methods: Between March and September 2023, we interviewed 12 Black MSM in small urban areas and explored HIVST awareness and willingness to use mHealth. Participants were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling. The data were analyzed inductively.
Results: The age range was 20-42 years. Participants had mixed knowledge of HIVST. The barriers to HIVST uptake are poor knowledge of HIVST, lack of adequate medical insurance to access HIVST kits, and concerns about the efficacy of HIVST kits. Black MSM were willing to link to care via mHealth but expressed concerns related to safety, confidentiality, and the risk of HIV stigma. Participants recommended wider awareness via social media and that the proposed mobile application has a simple interface for ease of use.
Conclusion: To encourage uptake among Black MSM, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services should make HIVST accessible (low-cost or free). The proposed mHealth should be developed with a simple and interactive interface, including images and videos to guide HIVST and linkage to health professionals for assistance.
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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11618894 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/20552076241302250 | DOI Listing |
AJP Rep
January 2025
Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina.
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is an important contributor to pediatric morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, disparities in the diagnosis and treatment of CHD exist across racial and ethnic groups. The objective of this study was to share the experiences of Hispanic and Black families with CHD to better understand their needs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Acquir Immune Defic Syndr
January 2025
Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
Background: HIV continues to disproportionately impact men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States (US). Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is effective, but disparities persist. Limited studies have conducted systematic evaluations of social determinants of health (SDOH) and their effects on PrEP persistence among MSM.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAIDS Behav
December 2024
University of Washington Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Seattle, WA, USA.
In Southern U.S. states with high HIV incidence and low HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake, enhanced efforts to increase interest in and willingness to use PrEP are needed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAIDS Res Hum Retroviruses
December 2024
South Carolina SmatState Center for Healthcare Quality, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA.
Monitoring HIV viral rebound (VR) is crucial, as it indicates an increased risk of infection, transmission, disease progression, and drug resistance. This study aims to identify the association between dynamic VR and historical viral load (VL)/CD4 count measures. A 15-year South Carolina population-based electronic health record data were used for the study.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Acquir Immune Defic Syndr
January 2025
Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (INI-Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ; and.
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic had great impact on HIV care and prevention worldwide, including in Brazil. We compared HIV testing, recent infection, and annualized incidence according to the COVID-19 pandemic period among cisgender men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW).
Setting: HIV and sexually transmitted infection testing, prevention, and treatment referral service in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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