Review of HIV Testing Efforts in Historically Black Churches

Abstract

This paper aims to critically assess the state of HIV testing in African American churches. A comprehensive review of peer-reviewed publications on HIV testing in church-based settings was conducted by two independent coders. Twenty-six papers published between 1991 and 2015, representing 24 unique projects, were identified addressing at least one dimension of HIV testing. Thirteen faith-based projects have implemented HIV testing events or had clergy promote the importance of testing and knowing one’s HIV status, but empirical data and rigorous study designs were limited. Only eight papers reported onsite HIV testing in churches. Less than 5% of the studies reported the percentage of congregants who returned for their test results. Finally, no study has examined at baseline or post-intervention behavioral intentions to be screened for HIV. Future research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of HIV testing in churches and to explore the possibilities of the role of the church and leadership structure in the promotion of HIV treatment and care.

African American Church Engagement in the HIV Care Continuum

“…Studies have noted that many faith-based efforts related to HIV infection have focused on prevention (Pichon & Powell, 2015). Our findings extend previous work in church-based HIV testing to the exploration of linkage to care and follow-up.…”

“…Several studies have found barriers to and facilitators of implementing church-based HIV programs in racial/ethnic minority communities; however, the research questions for these studies were derived from congregant perspectives on HIV-related stigma, HIV prevention, or HIV screening promotion interventions (Berkley-Patton, Moore, et al, 2013; Berkley-Patton, Thompson, et al, 2013; Pichon & Powell, 2015; Pichon, Powell, Ogg, Williams, & Becton-Odum, 2016; Pryor, Gaddist, & Johnson-Arnold, 2015; Williams et al, 2016). These studies left many unanswered questions about church leader perspectives on the feasibility of a focus on HIV care in African American churches.…”

Intersectional Stigma and Multi-Level Barriers to HIV Testing Among Foreign-Born Black Men From the Caribbean

“…Stigma-focused interventions have generally been delivered in-person and have been implemented on a relatively small scale (177). In order to address various forms of stigma (e.g., homophobia and racism), on a structural level, stigma-focused interventions must reach much larger populations, as well as collaborate with community coalitions including churches (205,206). As an example, Frye et al (207) conducted a rigorous randomized cluster-design trial of community-level intervention on HIV stigma, homophobia, and HIV testing in Black-Caribbean neighborhoods in NYC and found a 350% increase in HIV testing in that neighborhood compared to a control community.…”

“…For example, including federal HIV prevention funding for African American community coalitions, including churches, is one way to address racial/ethnic disparities in access to HIV testing and care (205). A review of HIV testing initiatives in Black churches found that, although testing is becoming more available at churches, there is a great need for collaboration between faith-based organizations and public health entities to increase HIV testing and linkage to care (206,211). Another example to address racial/ethnic HIV testing disparities by involving Black churches is spurring Youth movements through social media; with support from church leadership, Youth movements could help to normalize HIV testing in churches, and consequently reduce HIV testing stigma.…”

“Let Me Help You Help Me”: Church-Based HIV Prevention for Young Black Men Who Have Sex With Men

“…Over time, Black churches began to take more active roles in HIV prevention efforts (Agate, et al, 2005; Berkley-Patton et al, 2010; Griffith, et al, 2010; Williams, Palar, Derose, 2011). Recent research findings suggest that HIV prevention education, interventions and screening are welcome by some congregations and feasible to implement in some Black churches (Pichon and Powell, 2015; Weeks et al, 2016). Most church-based HIV prevention efforts have been developed in partnerships with outside organizations and tailored to target audiences such as youth and women (Francis & Liverpool, 2009; Stewart, 2014; Wingood et al, 2013).…”