Date of Conferral

2019

Degree

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

School

Public Health

Advisor

Chinaro Kennedy

Abstract

African-born residents of the United States have a higher incidence of HIV than African Americans. Factors such as lifestyle, habits, behavior practices, and activities may predispose African-born residents to behave sexually in ways that place them at risk of becoming infected with HIV. This study used a qualitative narrative approach to understand the lived experiences first generation Sub-Saharan African-born men who are U.S. residents to analyze the behaviors that expose them to HIV. To analyze data, the study used the health-belief model as the conceptual framework and NVivo for data analysis to assist in identifying, categorizing, and analyzing common themes and grouping unstructured data. The study used a purposive convenience sampling of 14 first generation Sub-Saharan African-born men who are U.S. residents residing in the states of Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania and discovered that they engage in sexual risk taking behaviors which include: having multiple sexual partners, preferring heterosexual relationships without a condom, have limited knowledge of HIV prevalence in the United States, and preferring to have sex with both African born females and American born women who are thought to be healthy. Their tendency to visit strip clubs, visit sex houses, and to abuse alcohol was also apparent in the study. Social change implications include adding new relevant knowledge in the understanding of how HIV spreads among Sub-Saharan African-born male U.S. residents by discovering the risk behaviors in which Sub-Saharan African men engage to expose themselves to contracting HIV disease. This knowledge can influence future health education efforts and target culture specific behaviors.

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