Religiosity and Engagement in HIV Care Among African American People Living with HIV

OBJECTIVE: This study explored the acceptability and feasibility of adopting and implementing religious determinants, including prayer and referral to religious leaders, into engagement in HIV care [EIHC] for African American people living with HIV [PLWH]. METHODS: Data for this study were collected through semi-structured individual interviews with African American PLWH, four focus groups with church leaders/members, and two focus groups with healthcare providers who serve African American PLWH. Demographic information was collected from participants including gender, sexual orientation, relationship status, age, race, and religiosity (and when appropriate, number of years associated with the church, anti-retroviral medication adherence, and doctor’s appointment visits). Individual interview and focus group questions focused on potential reach, adoption, and implementation of religiously-tailored EIHC support services in churches and health settings. Interview and focus groups were transcribed by a professional transcriptionist. Codebook themes related to Reach, Adoption, and Implementation of religiously-tailored engagement in HIV care support services were developed and finalized through an iterative process. Transcripts were coded by two researchers, resulting in good to almost perfect interrater reliability. This was an exploratory study without preconceived hypotheses due to the limited research conducted in this area. RESULTS: The sample included 20 PLWH, 40 church leaders/members, and 18 healthcare providers. Findings from interviews and focus groups indicated religiously-tailored EIHC support services would be highly beneficial for African American PLWH. Religiouslytailored support services were considered highly adoptable/implementable among PLWH, church leaders/members, and health providers. Several implementation strategies were suggested to increase reach, adoption, and implementation of religiously-tailored EIHC support services. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing collaboration between religious and health organizations may enhance EIHC for African American PLWH. Through joint church/health initiatives, religiously-tailored EIHC support services may increase reach of PLWH who are not engaged/not adequately engaged in HIV care. Collaboration may also increase support service discretion and increase health provider outreach within community-based settings. Additionally, PLWH may be referred to churches who are accepting of PLWH, which may increase social support and enhance quality of life.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology (UMKC)

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Missouri--Kansas City

Year dc:date.issued

2016

Author dc:creator

• Berman, Marcie

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Berkley-Patton, Jannette
• McDowd, Joan M.

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10355/59253

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:mospace.umsystem.edu:10355/59253