TY - JOUR
T1 - “Proud I Am Negative”
T2 - Maintaining HIV-seronegativity among Black MSM in New York City
AU - Dacus, Jagadisa devasri
AU - Voisin, Dexter R.
AU - Barker, Judith
N1 - Funding Information:
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This study was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH, R25MH083602) awarded to Co-Principal Investigators Beatrice Krauss, PhD, Jagadisa-devasri Dacus, LMSW.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2017, © The Author(s) 2017.
PY - 2018/6/1
Y1 - 2018/6/1
N2 - HIV incidence among black men who have sex with men (BMSM) is at epidemic proportions. However, the vast majority of studies have focused on risk factors related to HIV infections with a dearth of research on resiliency and how BMSM maintain seronegativity. Using three focus groups (N = 29) comprised of BMSM in New York City, this study explored psychosocial factors and practices related to maintaining seronegativity. Major themes included having spirituality and/or religious beliefs, access to social supports that held positive expectations, and having personal agency by engaging in seroadaptive harm reduction practices. Overall, findings highlight the importance of addressing HIV stigma, supporting the need for BMSM to be validated, and creating safe spaces that allow them to discuss the challenges related to remaining HIV-negative.
AB - HIV incidence among black men who have sex with men (BMSM) is at epidemic proportions. However, the vast majority of studies have focused on risk factors related to HIV infections with a dearth of research on resiliency and how BMSM maintain seronegativity. Using three focus groups (N = 29) comprised of BMSM in New York City, this study explored psychosocial factors and practices related to maintaining seronegativity. Major themes included having spirituality and/or religious beliefs, access to social supports that held positive expectations, and having personal agency by engaging in seroadaptive harm reduction practices. Overall, findings highlight the importance of addressing HIV stigma, supporting the need for BMSM to be validated, and creating safe spaces that allow them to discuss the challenges related to remaining HIV-negative.
KW - beliefs
KW - black MSM
KW - HIV-negative
KW - social and psychological dimensions
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85046800898&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1177/1097184X17696174
DO - 10.1177/1097184X17696174
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85046800898
VL - 21
SP - 276
EP - 290
JO - Men and Masculinities
JF - Men and Masculinities
SN - 1097-184X
IS - 2
ER -
