Providers' perspectives on the best practices for HIV prevention for men who have sex with men in Berlin, Germany: lessons for policy and prevention

• Published in: AIDS education and prevention Vol. 26; no. 6; pp. 485 - 499
• Main Authors: Grov, Christian, Restar, Arjee, Gussmann, Philip, Schlemmer, Kurt, Rodríguez-Díaz, Carlos E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Guilford Press 01.12.2014
• Subjects: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome; Adult; AIDS/HIV; Attitudes; Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany; Best Practices; Clubs; Community Relations; Developed Nations; Germany; Health Policy; HIV; HIV Infections - prevention & control; HIV Infections - transmission; Homophobia; Homosexuality; Homosexuality, Male; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Identity; Interviews as Topic; Male; Males; Men; Population; Prejudice; Prevention; Qualitative Research; Reading Materials; Risk Factors; Sexual orientation; Social Stigma; Stigma; Success; Volunteers; Germany; Berlin Germany
• ISSN: 0899-9546; 1943-2755
• DOI: 10.1521/aeap.2014.26.6.485

Using qualitative data via providers' perspectives, the goal of this study was to identify strengths and weaknesses in the current approaches being used to prevent onward transmission of HIV among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Berlin, Germany. In 2013, 18 participants from 10 organizations who provide direct outreach or services to MSM were interviewed (30-75 minutes). With regard to strategies and services that individuals believed contributed to the organization's success, we identified five themes: (1) Having staff and volunteers to "match" the target population, (2) Embracing homosexuality and gay identity, (3) Being invested in the cause, (4) Coordination of services to avoid overlap and duplication, and (5) Seeing eye-to-eye with the target population. Finally, with regard to areas in which organizations felt they could use improvement (i.e., continuing challenges), we identified three themes: (1) Insufficient funding and resources, (2) Insufficient services, and (3) HIV stigma, homophobia, and shifting attitudes about HIV. This study informs HIV prevention approaches in Berlin, Germany as well as other urban centers where MSM are disproportionally affected by the HIV epidemic.