A community-based study of clients' lived experiences of going through the rural HIV care continuum

This community-based study explored the lived experiences of being in and going through the rural HIV care continuum among 15 gay and bisexual men (GBM) with HIV who live in a rural area of a Midwestern state. Our analysis adapted a six-step interpretative phenomenological analysis. Five themes emer...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of HIV/AIDS & social services 2021-01, Vol.20 (1), p.33-57
Main Authors: Owens, Christopher, Voorheis, Eva, Struble, Nicole, Lester, Jessica N., Green, Harold D., Herbenick, Debby, Hubach, Randolph D., Dodge, Brian
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bisexuality
GBM
Health services
HIV
HIV care continuum
Human immunodeficiency virus
interpretative phenomenological analysis
interview
Medical diagnosis
Medicine
Mental disorders
Mental health
Methadone
MSM
Quality of life
Rural
Rural areas
Stigma
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Summary:This community-based study explored the lived experiences of being in and going through the rural HIV care continuum among 15 gay and bisexual men (GBM) with HIV who live in a rural area of a Midwestern state. Our analysis adapted a six-step interpretative phenomenological analysis. Five themes emerged that reflected the five continuum stages: 1) Diagnosis means death, 2) Linkage to care means uncertainty, 3) HIV care improves the quality of life lost pre- or peri-diagnosis, 4) ART implies life, and 5) Undetectable addresses the medical but not social aspects of HIV. Participants recalled they faced and continue to face social determinants, stigma, and chronic and mental health conditions. Findings provide future research directions and practical implications to address social determinants of health, promote chronic and mental health, and reduce interpersonal stigma throughout all HIV care continuum stages.
ISSN:1538-1501
1538-151X
DOI:10.1080/15381501.2021.1906819