New research has found that Black, nonheterosexual males with a recent history of incarceration, arrest, or “stop and search” face a higher risk of HIV and become less willing to take preexposure prophylaxis.
The study is the work of Rutgers School of Public Health in Piscataway, NJ, the City University of New York (CUNY), George Washington University in Washington, DC, and Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA.
The researchers came together to weigh the impact of arrest and incarceration on the health of nonheterosexual Black men.
The team reports its findings in the journal Social & Science Medicine.
“Evidence suggests Black sexual minority men in the United States may face some of the highest rates of policing and incarceration in the world,” notes lead author Devin English, Ph.D.
“Despite this,” English points out, “research examining the health impacts of the [United States] carceral system rarely focuses on their experiences. This study helps to address this gap.”
In the current study, the investigators surveyed 1,172 Black males who identify their sexual orientation of gay, bisexual, or queer.
All were aged 16 years or above and came from regions across the U.S. “The majority of participants was gay-identified, single, and had some college education,” the researchers write.
The goal of the survey and ensuing analysis was to look at how, in this cohort, arrest or incarceration history had links to health risks and behaviors, such as HIV