Understanding structural barriers to accessing HIV testing and prevention services among black men who have sex with men (BMSM) in the United States

Matthew E. Levy; Leo Wilton; Gregory Phillips; Sara Nelson Glick; Irene Kuo; Russell A. Brewer; Ayana Elliott; Christopher Watson; Manya Magnus

doi:10.1007/s10461-014-0719-x

Understanding structural barriers to accessing HIV testing and prevention services among black men who have sex with men (BMSM) in the United States

Matthew E. Levy^*, Leo Wilton, Gregory Phillips, Sara Nelson Glick, Irene Kuo, Russell A. Brewer, Ayana Elliott, Christopher Watson, Manya Magnus

^*Corresponding author for this work

Medical Social Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

241 Scopus citations

Abstract

Structural-level factors have contributed to the substantial disproportionate rates of HIV among Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) in the United States. Despite insufficient HIV testing patterns, however, there is a void in research investigating the relationship between structural factors and access to HIV testing and prevention services among BMSM. Building on previous scholarly work and incorporating a dynamic social systems conceptual framework, we conducted a comprehensive review of the literature on structural barriers to HIV testing and prevention services among BMSM across four domains: healthcare, stigma and discrimination, incarceration, and poverty. We found that BMSM experience inadequate access to culturally competent services, stigma and discrimination that impede access to services, a deficiency of services in correctional institutions, and limited services in areas where BMSM live. Structural interventions that eliminate barriers to HIV testing and prevention services and provide BMSM with core skills to navigate complex systems are needed.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	972-996
Number of pages	25
Journal	AIDS and behavior
Volume	18
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-014-0719-x
State	Published - May 2014

Funding

Acknowledgments The authors acknowledge colleagues Kyle Gordon, Alexander King, Vittoria Criss, Dr. James Peterson, and Dr. Sheldon Fields for their devoted work on the R21 project (MH097586). The authors appreciate Dr. Alan Greenberg for his ongoing support and thank Laura Abate for her guidance in conducting the literature search. Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R21 MH097586. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. The authors are grateful for the support and guidance provided by the District of Columbia Developmental Center for AIDS Research (DC D-CFAR), an NIH-funded Program (P30AI087714).

Keywords

Black men who have sex with men
HIV
HIV testing
Healthcare services
Incarceration
Poverty
Prevention
Stigma
Structural barriers

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Infectious Diseases
Social Psychology

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1007/s10461-014-0719-x

Cite this

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title = "Understanding structural barriers to accessing HIV testing and prevention services among black men who have sex with men (BMSM) in the United States",

abstract = "Structural-level factors have contributed to the substantial disproportionate rates of HIV among Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) in the United States. Despite insufficient HIV testing patterns, however, there is a void in research investigating the relationship between structural factors and access to HIV testing and prevention services among BMSM. Building on previous scholarly work and incorporating a dynamic social systems conceptual framework, we conducted a comprehensive review of the literature on structural barriers to HIV testing and prevention services among BMSM across four domains: healthcare, stigma and discrimination, incarceration, and poverty. We found that BMSM experience inadequate access to culturally competent services, stigma and discrimination that impede access to services, a deficiency of services in correctional institutions, and limited services in areas where BMSM live. Structural interventions that eliminate barriers to HIV testing and prevention services and provide BMSM with core skills to navigate complex systems are needed.",

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note = "Funding Information: Acknowledgments The authors acknowledge colleagues Kyle Gordon, Alexander King, Vittoria Criss, Dr. James Peterson, and Dr. Sheldon Fields for their devoted work on the R21 project (MH097586). The authors appreciate Dr. Alan Greenberg for his ongoing support and thank Laura Abate for her guidance in conducting the literature search. Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R21 MH097586. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. The authors are grateful for the support and guidance provided by the District of Columbia Developmental Center for AIDS Research (DC D-CFAR), an NIH-funded Program (P30AI087714).",

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AU - Brewer, Russell A.

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AU - Watson, Christopher

AU - Magnus, Manya

N1 - Funding Information: Acknowledgments The authors acknowledge colleagues Kyle Gordon, Alexander King, Vittoria Criss, Dr. James Peterson, and Dr. Sheldon Fields for their devoted work on the R21 project (MH097586). The authors appreciate Dr. Alan Greenberg for his ongoing support and thank Laura Abate for her guidance in conducting the literature search. Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R21 MH097586. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. The authors are grateful for the support and guidance provided by the District of Columbia Developmental Center for AIDS Research (DC D-CFAR), an NIH-funded Program (P30AI087714).

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Understanding structural barriers to accessing HIV testing and prevention services among black men who have sex with men (BMSM) in the United States

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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