African American Church Engagement in the HIV Care Continuum

Providing comprehensive services across the HIV care continuum through African American churches may improve HIV treatment outcomes for African Americans. We explored the feasibility of a church-led HIV care program in six churches in Baltimore, Maryland. Church leaders (n = 57) participated in focus groups and eight pastors participated in interviews. Data were analyzed by qualitative hybrid thematic analysis. Findings revealed eight themes: four themes were related to linkage to care: being unaware of community resources, concerns about HIV-associated regulations, ongoing personalized contact with HIV-infected persons, and desire for integration of spiritual education; four themes were related to HIV care and support services, including existing church infrastructure, provision of HIV support groups, using the church as an HIV care resource hub, and prevention education for uninfected people. These findings can support initiatives and efforts to promote delivery of HIV services along the HIV care continuum through African American churches.