Faith leaders' messaging is essential to enhance HIV prevention among black Americans: Results from the 2016 National Survey on HIV in the black community (NSHBC).

Abstract

Background: To investigate whether religious service attendance and faith leaders' messages about HIV and same-sex relationships are associated with acceptance of HIV prevention strategies. Methods: Multivariable Poisson regression assessed whether attending religious services, faith leaders' messages about HIV and same-sex relationships, and supportiveness of those messages were associated with HIV testing, as well as knowledge of and willingness to use pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among 868 Black Americans [45% men; M (SD) = 34 (9) years-old] in the 2016 National Survey on HIV in the Black Community, USA. Results: Participants who reported attending services monthly and/or hearing faith leaders' messages that were supportive of same-sex relationships had a significantly higher likelihood of willingness to use PrEP (adjusted Rate Ratio[ARR] = 1.76; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.09, 2.48) and aRR = 2.19; 95% CI = 1.35, 3.55, respectively), independent of HIV risk. Homophobia was significantly associated with higher likelihood of being aware of PrEP and testing for HIV testing in the past 12 months. Conclusions: Faith leaders' messaging can influence Black Americans' perceptions and uptake of HIV prevention strategies. Faith institutions and faith leaders should be involved in designing and disseminating HIV prevention strategies.