Utilization of HIV Prevention, Care, and Treatment Services Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men and Transgender Persons of Color in the U.S. South: A Qualitative Analysis.

HIV prevention; HIV infections; COUNSELING; HEALTH services accessibility; HISPANIC Americans; RESEARCH methodology; INTERVIEWING; COMMUNITY health services; MEDICAL screening; TRANSPORTATION of patients; PATIENT-centered care; SOCIAL stigma; MEDICAL care use; QUALITATIVE research; SUPPORT groups; MEN who have sex with men; ETHNIC groups; AFRICAN Americans; CORPORATE culture

To better understand utilization of HIV prevention, care, and treatment services by young men who have sex with men (YMSM) and young transgender persons (YTG), of Black race or Hispanic/Latino/Latina ethnicity in the U.S. South, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 127 clients at one of four community based organizations (CBOs) in Miami, Atlanta, New Orleans/Baton Rouge, or Columbia, South Carolina. Across sites, the service that most commonly drew respondents into the CBO was HIV and STD testing. Other services commonly used included HIV/STI treatment, counseling services/support groups, and PrEP services. Social/organizational/structural facilitators of service utilization include the welcoming climate/culture of the CBOs, ease of access to the services, and transportation services to reach the CBOs. Suggested service enhancements include broader range of comprehensive, navigational-type services beyond HIV testing and service co-location. Research on how to reduce stigma in the surrounding communities may help reduce health disparities experienced by these populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of AIDS Education & Prevention is the property of Guilford Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)