TY - JOUR
T1 - Engagement of HIV-negative MSM and partners of people with HIV in HIV cure (research)
T2 - exploring the influence of perceived severity, susceptibility, benefits, and concerns
AU - Noorman, Maaike A.J.
AU - de Wit, John B.F.
AU - Marcos, Tamika A.
AU - Stutterheim, Sarah E.
AU - Jonas, Kai J.
AU - den Daas, Chantal
N1 - This work was supported by the Aids Fonds under Grant P-53001.
PY - 2024/2/6
Y1 - 2024/2/6
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - community engagement
KW - HIV cure
KW - MSM
KW - partners
KW - SDG3: good health and well-being
KW - social engagement
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85184436648&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/09540121.2024.2307381
DO - 10.1080/09540121.2024.2307381
M3 - Article
C2 - 38319908
AN - SCOPUS:85184436648
SN - 0954-0121
JO - AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV
JF - AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV
ER -