Date of Conferral
2022
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Public Health
Advisor
Dr. Cheryl L. Anderson
Abstract
There is an urgent need to stop the HIV epidemic among African American gay and bisexual men in the United States. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to identify the health issues responsible for the HIV epidemic among African gay and bisexual men. Two theoretical frameworks that guided the study were the transtheoretical model and the syndemic theory. The study's research involved understanding African American gay and bisexual men's perspective toward HIV infections and their understanding of possible reasons HIV rates appear to increase in their community. Semi-structured telephone interviews and field notes were used to collect primary data from 12 study participants. Five themes emerged from the study: (a) lack of funds for HIV prevention programs; (b) poverty, lack of supportive services, and stigma; (c) mental health problems, high-risk behaviors for HIV infection, and easy access to multiple sex partners through social media; (d) lack of trust and representation; and (e) failure to go for HIV testing due to gay-identified public health campaign messages, high rates of STDs, and limited access to treatment and care. Future researchers could extend the study to other groups within African American LGBTQ communities in different areas to help them understand how to reduce HIV infections. The positive social change implications include reducing HIV in vulnerable populations that have the African American LGBTQ community.
Recommended Citation
Nwanguma, Victor Onwezi , Ikechukwu, "Understanding the Perspectives of African American Gay and Bisexual Men Toward HIV" (2022). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 13654.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/13654
