Sean R Cahill1, Timothy M Wang2, Holly B Fontenot3, Sophia R Geffen4, Kerith J Conron5, Kenneth H Mayer6, Michelle M Johns7, Sabrina A Avripas8, Stuart Michaels9, Richard Dunville10. 1. Sean R. Cahill, Director of Health Policy Research, The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health; Adjunct Associate Professor of the Practice, Department of Health Law, Policy and Management, Boston University School of Public Health; Affiliate Associate Clinical Professor and Visiting Scholar, Bouve College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA. Electronic address: scahill@fenwayhealth.org. 2. Timothy M. Wang, Director of Policy and Advocacy, Howard Brown Health Center, Chicago, IL. 3. Holly B. Fontenot, Affiliated Faculty, The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, MA and Associate Professor & Frances A. Matsuda Chair in Women's Health, School of Nursing & Dental Hygiene, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI. 4. Sophia R. Geffen, HIV Prevention Research Project Manager, The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, MA. 5. Kerith Conron, Blachford-Cooper Research Director and Distinguished Scholar, The Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law, Los Angeles, CA. 6. Kenneth H. Mayer, Medical Research Director and Co-Director, The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health; Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Attending Physician, Division of Infectious Disease, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA. 7. Michelle M. John, Health Scientist, Division of Adolescent and School Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA. 8. Sabrina A. Avripas, Senior Research Director, Public Health, NORC at the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. 9. Stuart Michaels, Senior Research Scientist, Ogburn-Stouffer Center for the Study of Social Organizations, NORC at the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. 10. Richard Dunville, Deputy Director, Division of Adolescent and School Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Adolescent sexual minority males (ASMM) are at disproportionate risk of HIV infection. The purpose of this study was to assess ASMM's attitudes about sexual health, barriers/facilitators to accessing HIV prevention, and actual versus ideal interactions for receiving sexual health care and information. METHOD: Two online and two in-person focus groups were conducted with ASMM from across the United States. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-one racially diverse ASMM participated (average age = 16.4 years). Online focus groups were superior for reaching the target population. Four themes emerged: 1: identity formation and sources of support, 2: challenges to obtaining sexual health information, 3: attitudes/beliefs about sex and sexual behaviors, and 4: barriers to HIV prevention. DISCUSSION: These findings illustrate current gaps in sexual health knowledge, as well as barriers and facilitators to obtaining sexual health information, sexual health care, and affirming education and support for ASMM.
INTRODUCTION: Adolescent sexual minority males (ASMM) are at disproportionate risk of HIV infection. The purpose of this study was to assess ASMM's attitudes about sexual health, barriers/facilitators to accessing HIV prevention, and actual versus ideal interactions for receiving sexual health care and information. METHOD: Two online and two in-person focus groups were conducted with ASMM from across the United States. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-one racially diverse ASMM participated (average age = 16.4 years). Online focus groups were superior for reaching the target population. Four themes emerged: 1: identity formation and sources of support, 2: challenges to obtaining sexual health information, 3: attitudes/beliefs about sex and sexual behaviors, and 4: barriers to HIV prevention. DISCUSSION: These findings illustrate current gaps in sexual health knowledge, as well as barriers and facilitators to obtaining sexual health information, sexual health care, and affirming education and support for ASMM.
Authors: Holly B Fontenot; Sean R Cahill; Timothy Wang; Sophia Geffen; Bradley P White; Sari Reisner; Kerith Conron; Christopher R Harper; Michelle M Johns; Sabrina A Avripas; Stuart Michaels; Richard Dunville Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2020-03-17 Impact factor: 7.124