Addressing HIV Misconceptions among Heterosexual Black Men and Communities in Ontario
Background. Black males accounted for 19.7% of all the new HIV diagnoses in Canada in 2020, yet Black people make up only 4.26% of the population. Persistent misconceptions about modes of HIV transmission need to be addressed to reduce the relatively high HIV prevalence among Black men. We described...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Healthcare |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/7/997 |
| _version_ | 1797607922087231488 |
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| author | Egbe B. Etowa Josephine Pui-Hing Wong Francisca Omorodion Josephine Etowa Isaac Luginaah |
| author_facet | Egbe B. Etowa Josephine Pui-Hing Wong Francisca Omorodion Josephine Etowa Isaac Luginaah |
| author_sort | Egbe B. Etowa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background. Black males accounted for 19.7% of all the new HIV diagnoses in Canada in 2020, yet Black people make up only 4.26% of the population. Persistent misconceptions about modes of HIV transmission need to be addressed to reduce the relatively high HIV prevalence among Black men. We described the HIV misconceptions held by some HBM in Ontario. We also identified the social determinants that are protective versus risk factors for HIV misconceptions among heterosexual Black men (HBM) in Ontario with a view to building evidence-based strategies for strengthening HIV prevention and stigma reduction among HBM and their communities in Ontario. Methods. We report quantitative findings of the weSpeak study carried out among HBM in four cities (Ottawa, Toronto, London, and Windsor) in Ontario. Sample size was 866 and sub-samples were: Ottawa (n = 210), Toronto (n = 343), London (n = 157), and Windsor (n = 156). Data were collected with survey questionnaire. The outcome variable, HIV misconception score ranging from 1 to 18, was measured by the number of statements on the HIV Knowledge Questionnaire with incorrect answers. We included three categories of independent variables in the analysis based on a stepwise and forward model selection approach. The variable categories include (i) sociodemographic background; (ii) personalised psychosocial attributes (levels of HIV misconceptions, negative condom attitude, age at sexual debut, and resilience); and (iii) socially ascribed psychosocial experiences (everyday discrimination and pro-community attitudes). After preliminary univariate and bivariate analyses, we used a hierarchical linear regression model (HLM) to predict levels of HIV misconceptions while controlling for the effect of the city of residence. Results. More than 50% of participants in all study sites were aged 20–49 years, married, and have undergone a college or university undergraduate education. Yet, a significant proportion (27.2%) held varying levels of misconceptions about HIV. In those with misconceptions, the two most common misconceptions were: (i) people are likely to get HIV by deep kissing, putting their tongue in their partner’s mouth, if their partner has HIV (40.1%); and (ii) taking a test for HIV one week after having sex will tell a person if she or he has HIV (31.6%). Discrimination (β = 0.23, <i>p</i> < 0.05, 95% CI = 0.01, 0.46), negative condom attitudes (β = 0.07, <i>p</i> < 0.05, 95% CI = 0.01, 0.12), and sexual debut at an older age (β = 0.06, <i>p</i> < 0.05, 95% CI = 0.01, 1) were associated with more HIV misconceptions. Being born in Canada (β = −0.96, <i>p</i> < 0.05, 95% CI = −1.8, −0.12), higher education (β = −0.37, <i>p</i> < 0.05, 95% CI = −0.52, −0.21), and being more resilient (β = −0.04, <i>p</i> < 0.05, 95% CI = −0.08, −0.01) were associated with fewer HIV misconceptions. Conclusion and recommendations. HIV misconceptions are still common, especially among HBM. These misconceptions are associated with structural and behavioural factors. We recommend structural and policy-driven interventions that promote more accessible and equity-driven healthcare, education, and social integration of HBM in Ontario. We also recommend building capacity for collective resilience and critical health and racial literacy as well as creating culturally safe spaces for intergenerational dialogues among HBM in their communities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:37:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f3ee2841ab6a4df68c7af99b7f506f50 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9032 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:37:22Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Healthcare |
| spelling | doaj.art-f3ee2841ab6a4df68c7af99b7f506f502023-11-17T16:43:57ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322023-03-0111799710.3390/healthcare11070997Addressing HIV Misconceptions among Heterosexual Black Men and Communities in OntarioEgbe B. Etowa0Josephine Pui-Hing Wong1Francisca Omorodion2Josephine Etowa3Isaac Luginaah4Daphne Cockwell Health Sciences Complex, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, CanadaDaphne Cockwell Health Sciences Complex, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, CanadaDepartment of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminology, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, CanadaSchool of Nursing, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, CanadaDepartment of Geography, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, CanadaBackground. Black males accounted for 19.7% of all the new HIV diagnoses in Canada in 2020, yet Black people make up only 4.26% of the population. Persistent misconceptions about modes of HIV transmission need to be addressed to reduce the relatively high HIV prevalence among Black men. We described the HIV misconceptions held by some HBM in Ontario. We also identified the social determinants that are protective versus risk factors for HIV misconceptions among heterosexual Black men (HBM) in Ontario with a view to building evidence-based strategies for strengthening HIV prevention and stigma reduction among HBM and their communities in Ontario. Methods. We report quantitative findings of the weSpeak study carried out among HBM in four cities (Ottawa, Toronto, London, and Windsor) in Ontario. Sample size was 866 and sub-samples were: Ottawa (n = 210), Toronto (n = 343), London (n = 157), and Windsor (n = 156). Data were collected with survey questionnaire. The outcome variable, HIV misconception score ranging from 1 to 18, was measured by the number of statements on the HIV Knowledge Questionnaire with incorrect answers. We included three categories of independent variables in the analysis based on a stepwise and forward model selection approach. The variable categories include (i) sociodemographic background; (ii) personalised psychosocial attributes (levels of HIV misconceptions, negative condom attitude, age at sexual debut, and resilience); and (iii) socially ascribed psychosocial experiences (everyday discrimination and pro-community attitudes). After preliminary univariate and bivariate analyses, we used a hierarchical linear regression model (HLM) to predict levels of HIV misconceptions while controlling for the effect of the city of residence. Results. More than 50% of participants in all study sites were aged 20–49 years, married, and have undergone a college or university undergraduate education. Yet, a significant proportion (27.2%) held varying levels of misconceptions about HIV. In those with misconceptions, the two most common misconceptions were: (i) people are likely to get HIV by deep kissing, putting their tongue in their partner’s mouth, if their partner has HIV (40.1%); and (ii) taking a test for HIV one week after having sex will tell a person if she or he has HIV (31.6%). Discrimination (β = 0.23, <i>p</i> < 0.05, 95% CI = 0.01, 0.46), negative condom attitudes (β = 0.07, <i>p</i> < 0.05, 95% CI = 0.01, 0.12), and sexual debut at an older age (β = 0.06, <i>p</i> < 0.05, 95% CI = 0.01, 1) were associated with more HIV misconceptions. Being born in Canada (β = −0.96, <i>p</i> < 0.05, 95% CI = −1.8, −0.12), higher education (β = −0.37, <i>p</i> < 0.05, 95% CI = −0.52, −0.21), and being more resilient (β = −0.04, <i>p</i> < 0.05, 95% CI = −0.08, −0.01) were associated with fewer HIV misconceptions. Conclusion and recommendations. HIV misconceptions are still common, especially among HBM. These misconceptions are associated with structural and behavioural factors. We recommend structural and policy-driven interventions that promote more accessible and equity-driven healthcare, education, and social integration of HBM in Ontario. We also recommend building capacity for collective resilience and critical health and racial literacy as well as creating culturally safe spaces for intergenerational dialogues among HBM in their communities.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/7/997Black menheterosexualityHIV misconceptionssocial determinants |
| spellingShingle | Egbe B. Etowa Josephine Pui-Hing Wong Francisca Omorodion Josephine Etowa Isaac Luginaah Addressing HIV Misconceptions among Heterosexual Black Men and Communities in Ontario Healthcare Black men heterosexuality HIV misconceptions social determinants |
| title | Addressing HIV Misconceptions among Heterosexual Black Men and Communities in Ontario |
| title_full | Addressing HIV Misconceptions among Heterosexual Black Men and Communities in Ontario |
| title_fullStr | Addressing HIV Misconceptions among Heterosexual Black Men and Communities in Ontario |
| title_full_unstemmed | Addressing HIV Misconceptions among Heterosexual Black Men and Communities in Ontario |
| title_short | Addressing HIV Misconceptions among Heterosexual Black Men and Communities in Ontario |
| title_sort | addressing hiv misconceptions among heterosexual black men and communities in ontario |
| topic | Black men heterosexuality HIV misconceptions social determinants |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/7/997 |
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