The synergistic impact of sexual stigma and psychosocial well-being on HIV testing: A mixed-methods study among nigerian men who have sex with men

TRUST/RV368 Study Group

doi:10.1007/s10461-018-2191-5

The synergistic impact of sexual stigma and psychosocial well-being on HIV testing: A mixed-methods study among nigerian men who have sex with men

TRUST/RV368 Study Group

Bloomberg School of Public Health

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

Although sexual stigma has been linked to decreased HIV testing among men who have sex with men (MSM), mechanisms for this association are unclear. We evaluated the role of psychosocial well-being in connecting sexual stigma and HIV testing using an explanatory sequential mixed methods analysis of 25 qualitative and 1480 quantitative interviews with MSM enrolled in a prospective cohort study in Nigeria from March/2013-February/2016. Utilizing structural equation modeling, we found a synergistic negative association between sexual stigma and suicidal ideation on HIV testing. Qualitatively, prior stigma experiences often generated psychological distress and perceptions of feeling unsafe, which decreased willingness to seek services at general health facilities. MSM reported feeling safe at the MSM-friendly study clinic but still described a need for psychosocial support services. Addressing stigma and unmet mental health needs among Nigerian MSM has the potential to improve HIV testing uptake.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	3905-3915
Number of pages	11
Journal	AIDS and behavior
Volume	22
Issue number	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-018-2191-5
State	Published - Jan 1 2018

Keywords

Hiv testing
Latent class analysis
Men who have sex with men
Mental health
Stigma
Suicidal ideation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Social Psychology
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Infectious Diseases

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10.1007/s10461-018-2191-5

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title = "The synergistic impact of sexual stigma and psychosocial well-being on HIV testing: A mixed-methods study among nigerian men who have sex with men",

abstract = "Although sexual stigma has been linked to decreased HIV testing among men who have sex with men (MSM), mechanisms for this association are unclear. We evaluated the role of psychosocial well-being in connecting sexual stigma and HIV testing using an explanatory sequential mixed methods analysis of 25 qualitative and 1480 quantitative interviews with MSM enrolled in a prospective cohort study in Nigeria from March/2013-February/2016. Utilizing structural equation modeling, we found a synergistic negative association between sexual stigma and suicidal ideation on HIV testing. Qualitatively, prior stigma experiences often generated psychological distress and perceptions of feeling unsafe, which decreased willingness to seek services at general health facilities. MSM reported feeling safe at the MSM-friendly study clinic but still described a need for psychosocial support services. Addressing stigma and unmet mental health needs among Nigerian MSM has the potential to improve HIV testing uptake.",

keywords = "Hiv testing, Latent class analysis, Men who have sex with men, Mental health, Stigma, Suicidal ideation",

author = "{TRUST/RV368 Study Group} and Cristina Rodriguez-Hart and Cory Bradley and Danielle German and Rashelle Musci and Ifeanyi Orazulike and Stefan Baral and Hongjie Liu and Crowell, {Trevor A.} and Man Charurat and Nowak, {Rebecca G.}",

note = "Funding Information: Funding This work was supported by a cooperative agreement (W81XWH-11-2-0174) between the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). This study is also supported by funds from the US National Institutes of Health under Award No. R01MH099001 and R01AI120913 and training grant T32 A1050056-12, the US Military HIV Research Program (Grant No. W81XWH-07-2-0067), Fogarty AITRP (D43TW01041), and the President{\textquoteright}s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief through cooperative agreement U2G IPS000651 from the HHS/ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Global AIDS Program with IHVN. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2018.",

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doi = "10.1007/s10461-018-2191-5",

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AU - Bradley, Cory

AU - German, Danielle

AU - Musci, Rashelle

AU - Orazulike, Ifeanyi

AU - Baral, Stefan

AU - Liu, Hongjie

AU - Crowell, Trevor A.

AU - Charurat, Man

AU - Nowak, Rebecca G.

N1 - Funding Information: Funding This work was supported by a cooperative agreement (W81XWH-11-2-0174) between the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). This study is also supported by funds from the US National Institutes of Health under Award No. R01MH099001 and R01AI120913 and training grant T32 A1050056-12, the US Military HIV Research Program (Grant No. W81XWH-07-2-0067), Fogarty AITRP (D43TW01041), and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief through cooperative agreement U2G IPS000651 from the HHS/ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Global AIDS Program with IHVN. Publisher Copyright: © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2018.

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N2 - Although sexual stigma has been linked to decreased HIV testing among men who have sex with men (MSM), mechanisms for this association are unclear. We evaluated the role of psychosocial well-being in connecting sexual stigma and HIV testing using an explanatory sequential mixed methods analysis of 25 qualitative and 1480 quantitative interviews with MSM enrolled in a prospective cohort study in Nigeria from March/2013-February/2016. Utilizing structural equation modeling, we found a synergistic negative association between sexual stigma and suicidal ideation on HIV testing. Qualitatively, prior stigma experiences often generated psychological distress and perceptions of feeling unsafe, which decreased willingness to seek services at general health facilities. MSM reported feeling safe at the MSM-friendly study clinic but still described a need for psychosocial support services. Addressing stigma and unmet mental health needs among Nigerian MSM has the potential to improve HIV testing uptake.

AB - Although sexual stigma has been linked to decreased HIV testing among men who have sex with men (MSM), mechanisms for this association are unclear. We evaluated the role of psychosocial well-being in connecting sexual stigma and HIV testing using an explanatory sequential mixed methods analysis of 25 qualitative and 1480 quantitative interviews with MSM enrolled in a prospective cohort study in Nigeria from March/2013-February/2016. Utilizing structural equation modeling, we found a synergistic negative association between sexual stigma and suicidal ideation on HIV testing. Qualitatively, prior stigma experiences often generated psychological distress and perceptions of feeling unsafe, which decreased willingness to seek services at general health facilities. MSM reported feeling safe at the MSM-friendly study clinic but still described a need for psychosocial support services. Addressing stigma and unmet mental health needs among Nigerian MSM has the potential to improve HIV testing uptake.

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The synergistic impact of sexual stigma and psychosocial well-being on HIV testing: A mixed-methods study among nigerian men who have sex with men

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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