Barriers and Facilitators for Antiretroviral Treatment Adherence Among HIV-Positive African American and Latino Men Who Have Sex With Men.

BLACK people; CHI-squared test; CONTENT analysis; DRUGS; HISPANIC Americans; PSYCHOLOGY of HIV-positive persons; INTERVIEWING; RESEARCH methodology; PATIENT compliance; ANTIRETROVIRAL agents; MEN who have sex with men

Some Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV do not take antiretroviral therapy (ART). We conducted semistructured interviews with 84 adult, Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino MSM with HIV to understand ART barriers and facilitators. We used chi-square statistics to identify factors associated with ART use (p ≤.05), and selected illustrative quotes. Over half (51.2%) said they followed their doctor's instructions; however, only 27.4% reported consistently taking ART. Some men delayed ART until overcoming diagnosis denial or becoming very sick. ART use was facilitated by encouragement from others, treatment plans, side effect management, lab test improvements, pill-taking reminders, and convenient care facilities that provide "one-stop shop" services. Men were more likely to take ART when having providers who communicated effectively and were perceived to treat them with respect. Healthcare personnel can use our findings to strengthen services for MSM of color. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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