Qualitative description of interpersonal HIV stigma and motivations for HIV testing among gays, bisexuals, and men who have sex with men in Ghana's slums-BSGH-005

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 19; no. 6; p. e0289905
• Main Authors: Abu-Ba'are, Gamji Rabiu, Shamrock, Osman Wumpini, Zigah, Edem Yaw, Ogunbajo, Adedotun, Dakpui, Henry Delali, Agbemedu, George Rudolph Kofi, Boyd, Donte T, Ezechi, Oliver C, Nelson, LaRon E, Torpey, Kwasi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 05.06.2024; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adult; Analysis; Biology and Life Sciences; Bisexuality - psychology; Care and treatment; Consent; Content analysis; Data collection; Diagnosis; Discrimination against AIDS virus carriers; Discrimination in medical care; Disease susceptibility; Gays; Gays & lesbians; Ghana - epidemiology; Ghettos; Health aspects; Health care industry; HIV; HIV (Viruses); HIV infection; HIV Infections - diagnosis; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV Infections - psychology; HIV Testing; Homosexuality, Male - psychology; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Infection; Interviews; Male; Medical tests; Medicine and Health Sciences; Men; Mens health; Middle Aged; Motivation; People and Places; Poverty Areas; Prevention; Sexual and Gender Minorities - psychology; Sexual health; Sexual intercourse; Sexual minorities; Sexual orientation; Sexually transmitted diseases; Slums; Social Stigma; STD; Stigma; Stigma (Social psychology); Young Adult; Ghana; Kumasi Ghana
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289905

Despite significant progress in Ghana's HIV response, disparities in HIV prevalence persist among different populations. Gays, bisexuals, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in the country remain vulnerable to HIV infection due to high levels of stigma and discrimination, limited access to healthcare services, and low HIV knowledge levels. While limited studies focus on HIV prevention and care in the Ghanaian GBMSM context, we did not find studies on GBMSM in slums. We, therefore, explored stigma and motivations of HIV testing among GBMSM in slums. In collaboration with our community partners, we recruited and conducted face-to-face interviews among 12 GBMSM from slums in Accra and Kumasi, Ghana. Our multiple-reviewer summative content analysis identified the following: under HIV stigma, we identified two categories, avoidance of GBMSM living with HIV and fear of testing positive for HIV. Under motivations for HIV testing, we identified three categories; HIV vulnerability, knowing one's HIV status, and positive messaging about HIV. Our findings provide valuable insights into stigma and motivations for HIV testing among GBMSM in Ghanaian slums. They also highlight the importance of targeted HIV education interventions to empower GBMSM to take responsibility for their sexual health and address the unique challenges they face accessing HIV testing services.