RESUMO
Community-based organizations (CBOs) are integral to achieving the goal of Ending the HIV epidemic (EHE). Their familiarity with and proximity to communities position them to effectively implement strategies necessary to address determinants of health through their formal and informal medical and social services. However, structural inequities have contributed to the demise of many organizations that were instrumental in early responses to the HIV epidemic. We define structural inequities for HIV CBOs as systems in which policies, institutional practices, organizational (mis)representations, and other norms work to produce and maintain inequities that affect CBOs' ability to survive and thrive. In this discussion, we describe the organizational threats to grassroots HIV CBOs and the risks to livelihood and longevity, including examples. The invaluable role of HIV CBOs in EHE and their role in responding to existing and novel infectious diseases like COVID-19 should not be overlooked. Recommendations to promote structural equity are offered. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(3):417-425. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306688).
Assuntos
Redes Comunitárias/organização & administração , Infecções por HIV/epidemiologia , Organizações sem Fins Lucrativos/organização & administração , Epidemias , Humanos , Organizações sem Fins Lucrativos/economiaRESUMO
To describe non-clinical HIV service providers (NCHSPs) as surrogate seekers and health information mavens for people living with HIV (PLWH), men who have sex with men (MSM), and other vulnerable populations.In May/June 2016, we recruited 30 NCHSPs from three community-based HIV/AIDS service organizations. NCHSPs completed a 118-item self-administered, paper-and-pencil survey about HPV, cancer, and health communication. Data were analyzed using Stata/SE 14.1.Almost all (97%) NCHSPs were surrogate seekers and had looked for HIV/AIDS (97%), STD (97%), and cancer (93%) information. Most (60%) cancer information seekers had looked for information about HPV. The Internet (97%) and healthcare providers (97%) were health information sources almost all NCHSPs trusted. Nearly all NCHSPs (93%) were completely or very confident about their ability to find health information. The mean health information mavenism score (17.4 ± 2.1) was significantly higher than the scale's high-score cutoff (15.0) (p < 0 .001).NCHSPs look for and share health information with the vulnerable populations (e.g., PLWH, MSM) they serve. More research is needed to understand what NCHSPs' know and think about the health information they are sharing with vulnerable populations.
Assuntos
Serviços de Saúde Comunitária/organização & administração , Infecções por HIV/terapia , Comunicação em Saúde/métodos , Neoplasias/prevenção & controle , Infecções por Papillomavirus/complicações , Adulto , Idoso , Feminino , Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde , Pessoal de Saúde/psicologia , Pessoal de Saúde/estatística & dados numéricos , Homossexualidade Masculina/estatística & dados numéricos , Humanos , Comportamento de Busca de Informação , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Neoplasias/virologia , Relações Profissional-Paciente , Medição de Risco , South Carolina , Inquéritos e Questionários , Populações Vulneráveis/estatística & dados numéricosRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: Project F.A.I.T.H. (Fostering AIDS Initiatives that Heal) was established in January 2006 to reduce the stigma of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among African American faith-based organizations in South Carolina. During its first year, Project F.A.I.T.H. funded 22 churches to provide HIV-related programs and services to their congregations and surrounding communities. To determine the baseline level of HIV-related knowledge and stigmatizing attitudes, we conducted a survey with parishioners, pastors, and care team members at Project F.A.I.T.H. churches. METHODS: During 2007, 20 Project F.A.I.T.H. churches conducted cross-sectional surveys with 1,445 parishioners, 61 pastors, and 109 care team members measuring their HIV-related knowledge and stigmatizing attitudes. RESULTS: While most parishioners were very knowledgeable about HIV transmission via unprotected sex and needle sharing during injection drug use, they were less knowledgeable about transmission via casual contact, mosquitoes, donating blood, and an HIV test. Overall, HIV-related stigma was low at Project F.A.I.T.H. churches. However, males and older parishioners (aged > or = 65 years) were significantly less knowledgeable and had greater HIV-related stigma than females and younger parishioners. Pastors and care team members at Project F.A.I.T.H. churches were significantly more knowledgeable and harbored significantly less stigma than their parishioners. CONCLUSIONS: To effectively address HIV-related stigma at African American churches, educational programs must reinforce the ways in which HIV can and cannot be transmitted, and pay particular attention to educating males and older populations. These findings may be helpful to HIV-prevention efforts targeting African American faith-based organizations in South Carolina and elsewhere.
Assuntos
Síndrome da Imunodeficiência Adquirida/psicologia , Negro ou Afro-Americano/psicologia , Infecções por HIV/psicologia , Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde , Estereotipagem , Síndrome da Imunodeficiência Adquirida/etnologia , Síndrome da Imunodeficiência Adquirida/prevenção & controle , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Coleta de Dados , Feminino , Infecções por HIV/etnologia , Infecções por HIV/prevenção & controle , Educação em Saúde , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Religião , South Carolina , Adulto JovemRESUMO
The HIV Stigma Scale is a measure that assesses stigmatization perceived and experienced by people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Using Item Response Theory (IRT) methodologies, the present study examined HIV Stigma Scale responses from 224 Black and 317 White PLWHA to determine whether cross-cultural differences exist in responses to items of the scale. IRT analysis revealed that eleven out of forty items functioned differently across groups. Black respondents had a higher probability of indicating greater stigmatization on items that described situations in which others discriminated against them, and White respondents had a higher probability of indicating greater stigmatization on items that described a resolve to keep their status a secret and fears of interpersonal rejection. These differences suggest that PLWHA have different experiences of stigma based on their ethnic/racial background, either because of cultural differences or the ways in which the participants interpreted items of the HIV Stigma Scale.