This 5-year study aims to understand determinants that perpetuate and mitigate stigma toward anal sex during healthcare encounters, in order to develop and pilot a strategy that responds to these determinants and thereby improves the quality of care and HIV service engagement among men who have sex with men (MSM). The study team will collect data during in-depth interviews with 20 adult MSM as well as 20 adult healthcare workers (HCWs) to identify strategies that could be readily used in health services to reduce stigma. Analysis of this data will then inform consultation with an advisory board of 4 adult MSM and 4 adult HCWs to develop the content of a set of implementation strategies to mitigate stigma and thereby improve health service delivery. Evaluation of a set of implementation strategies will be performed in two high incidence regions in the United States, by pilot testing with 120 adult HCWs who do not specialize in MSM health and who work in clinical sites where MSM are under-engaged in HIV services.
The purpose of this study is to explore drivers and mitigators of anal sex stigma in healthcare, and then to develop and pilot an intervention for health workers that mitigates the deterrent effects of this stigma on the engagement of gay and bisexual men in HIV-related services.