# Real Talk: Conversations on HIV with Black Heterosexual Men in Healthcare Settings

## TL;DR

This study explores why Black heterosexual men in the U.S. are often overlooked in HIV discussions and how factors like masculinity and socioeconomic status affect their conversations about HIV with healthcare providers and family.

## Contribution

The study identifies barriers to HIV conversations among Black heterosexual men and emphasizes their inclusion in future HIV prevention and education efforts.

## Key findings

- Nearly half of participants reported having talked to a healthcare provider about HIV/AIDS.
- About 40.9% of participants reported discussing HIV/AIDS and STIs with a family member.
- The study highlights the need to address barriers that prevent BHM from engaging in HIV-related conversations.

## Abstract

Nearly half of heterosexually transmitted human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections occur among Black men in the United States. Yet Black heterosexual men (BHM) are largely ignored in HIV programming, policy implementation, and research. This study explores how masculinity, mental health, and socioeconomic factors such as income, education, and insurance (e.g., enrollment and coverage) correlate with the likelihood of BHM having important conversations surrounding HIV with their healthcare providers and family members. Conversations among social networks (e.g., peers, family, and neighbors) create an opportunity to increase comfortability while discussing HIV-related topics around condom use and testing. This study used a cross-sectional survey design and convenience sampling (N = 279) to recruit participants from a community-academic partnership involving a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in Detroit between June 1, 2020, and July 31, 2020. Descriptive statistics were used to report demographics, socioeconomic information, and sexual health-related behavior variables. Spearman’s correlation test was used to report bivariate correlations between predictor and outcome variables. 49.3% of the study participants disclosed having ever talked to a healthcare provider about HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), and 40.9% disclosed having ever talked to a family member about HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The results from this article highlight potential barriers that may inhibit BHM from engaging in conversations about HIV with their healthcare providers and family members. It is important to include BHM in future research that focuses on HIV prevention and education to support community leaders and clinicians who work to address these disparities.