Abstract
As the prospect of an HIV cure is gaining prominence, engaging key populations affected by an HIV cure becomes essential. This study examined the engagement of HIV-negative men who have sex with men (MSM) and/or partners of people with HIV (PHIV) in the Netherlands. Interviews were conducted with 19 MSM not in relationships with a partner with HIV and 16 partners of PHIV and were thematically analyzed. Perspectives on the importance of an HIV cure were shaped by the perceived severity of HIV and the level of susceptibility to the virus. Despite concerns about potential new HIV infections and treatment intensity, most participants believed that an HIV cure could reduce HIV burden. Both HIV eradication and HIV suppression were regarded as acceptable outcomes. Engagement was demonstrated through actions like accessing information, participating in research, and showing support for partners or community members involved in HIV cure research. In conclusion, we found that most participants were engaged due to their heightened perception of HIV's severity. However, this engagement tended to remain passive due to their perceived low susceptibility to HIV, resulting in a scenario where the perceived importance of an HIV cure is high, while personal relevance remains low.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 211-222 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV |
| Volume | 36 |
| Issue number | s1 |
| Early online date | 6 Feb 2024 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jul 2024 |
Bibliographical note
We would like to express our gratitude to the following individuals and organizations for their contributions to this paper. Firstly, we are immensely grateful to the participants who shared their time, experiences, and stories, making this research possible. Their willingness to engage in open and honest discussions added depth and richness to our findings. We also extend our appreciation to the members of the professional and community advisory boards who provided their expertise, insights, and guidance throughout the research process, which greatly enhanced the quality of this study. We would also like to acknowledge the Hiv Vereniging and the Verpleegkundig Consulenten HIV for their support and collaboration. We thank Lissa Agema for the transcriptions.Data Availability Statement
No data availability statement.Keywords
- community engagement
- HIV cure
- MSM
- partners
- SDG3: good health and well-being
- social engagement
- Sexual Partners/psychology
- HIV Infections/psychology
- Humans
- Middle Aged
- Male
- Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
- Young Adult
- Netherlands
- Homosexuality, Male/psychology
- Adult
- Female
- Qualitative Research
Access to Document
- Noorman_etal_AC_Engagement_of_HIV_VoR
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