Correlates of HIV Testing among African American and Latino Church Congregants: The Role of HIV Stigmatizing Attitudes and Discussions about HIV

Abstract

Faith-based organizations can be key settings in which to reach African Americans and Latinos for HIV prevention, but little is known regarding factors that predict congregants' HIV testing behaviors. We examined the extent to which sociodemographic factors, HIV-related cues to action (e.g., knowing someone who is HIV-positive), and the social climate surrounding HIV (stigma toward a hypothetical HIV-positive congregant, HIV-related discussions at church about abstinence, condoms, and testing) were associated with willingness to be tested in church and with ever having been tested among 1211 African American and Latino congregants. Multivariate analyses indicated that congregants were more open to church-based testing if they were younger and had discussed condoms at church. They were less open if they expressed stigmatizing attitudes toward a hypothetical congregant. Foreign-born Latinos with low English proficiency were more willing to be tested at church than were African Americans. Congregants were more likely to have ever been tested if they were younger, African American, female, or married; if they knew someone who was HIV-positive; and if they had discussed testing and condoms at church. They were less likely if they had discussed abstinence. Open dialogue around HIV may activate congregants to be more receptive to church-based prevention.

HIV-Related Medical Mistrust, HIV Testing, and HIV Risk in the National Survey on HIV in the Black Community

“…We forced continuously coded age into the model as an additional covariate, given known age differences in HIV testing. 31 We calculated the proportion of indirect to total effect (i.e., proportion mediated). We only assessed mediation for HIV risk variables that were significantly related to HIV testing.…”

Strategies to Promote African-American Church Leadership Engagement in HIV Testing and Linkage to Care

“…The Black Church is one such organization, which continues to play a vital role in the lives of their congregants and surrounding community members [4,5]. More importantly, Black churches have made increasingly positive strides in the incorporation of HIV testing and prevention interventions, programs, and ministries into their venues [6][7][8][9]. Through the co-location of health services, the Black Church could increase access and availability of HIV related services for the Black community [2].…”

Correlates of Never Testing for HIV Among Non-Hispanic Black Men in the United States: National Survey of Family Growth, 2011–2013

“…Furthermore, many younger persons may still be covered by their parents’ health insurance coverage and may be less inclined to get tested for HIV out of fear that their parents may become aware of the test itself or the results. Fear and stigma surrounding HIV and HIV testing in healthcare facilities in the non-Hispanic Black community may also preclude young people from getting tested for HIV in these locations [15,16]. Young non-Hispanic Black men are more influenced by normative attitudes of their peers and are more susceptible to social marginalization than older men [24].…”