Community-level resources bolstering resilience to HIV/AIDS: Perspectives of middle-aged and older men who have sex with men living with HIV/AIDS

Date
2021-12
Authors
Liboro, Renato, M.
Yates, Tammy, C.
Fehr, Charles
Da Silva, George
Ibañez-Carrasco, Francisco
Eaton, Andrew, D.
Pugh, Daniel
Ross, Lori, E.
Shuper, Paul, A.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
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Abstract

Most prior research on resilience to HIV/AIDS has utilized quantitative tools (e.g., scales and surveys) to examine individual-level assets (e.g., self-efficacy, hope, optimism) that researchers believe represent or approximate resilience to HIV/AIDS with minimal consideration for the perspectives of men who have sex with men (MSM), the population that has remained at greatest risk of, and the most impacted by HIV/AIDS in North America since the 1980s. The aim of this qualitative study is to identify community-level resources that bolster resilience to HIV/AIDS based specifically on the perspectives and lived experiences of middle-aged and older (MAO) MSM living with HIV/AIDS. Employing a Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) approach involving the meaningful and active engagement of MSM at multiple levels (i.e., as research team members, peer researchers, Community Advisory Board representatives, community partners, and study participants), forty-one MAO MSM living with HIV/AIDS from Ontario, Canada, were included in the study’s semi-structured interviews. Utilizing thematic analysis, four major themes were identified from the interview data: (a) the 2SLGBTQ+ community; (b) community-based not-for-profit organizations; (c) public health services; and (d) neighbourhood support programs. This article discusses the value of community-level resources as important additions to individual-level assets for bolstering resilience to HIV/AIDS, as well as the implications of the study’s findings and limitations for future HIV/AIDS services and research.

Description
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Keywords
community-level resources, resilience, HIV/AIDS, middle-aged and older, men who have sex with men
Citation
Liboro, R. M., Yates, T. C., Fehr, C., DaSilva, G., Ibáñez-Carrasco, F., Eaton, A. D., Pugh, D., Ross, L. E., & Shuper P. A. (2021). Community-level resources bolstering resilience to HIV/AIDS: Perspectives of middle-aged and older men who have sex with men living with HIV/AIDS. Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice, 12(4). https://www.gjcpp.org/en/article.php?issue=41&article=248
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