Influence of incarceration: HIV disease risk in Dark queer men
New research has found that Dark, nonheterosexual males with a recently available history of incarceration, arrest, or “stop and search” face a higher risk of HIV and be less willing to take preexposure prophylaxis.
The study is the work of Rutgers University of Public Overall health in Piscataway, NJ, the City University of New York (CUNY), George Washington University in Washington, DC, and Morehouse School of Treatments 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 Dark sexual minority guys in america may face a number of the highest rates of policing and incarceration on the planet,” notes lead author Devin English, Ph.D.
“Not surprisingly,” English highlights, “research examining medical impacts of the [United States] carceral system rarely targets their experiences. This review really helps to address this gap.”
‘Systemically perpetrated’ discrimination
In the current study, the investigators surveyed 1,172 Black men who identify their sexual orientation of gay, bisexual, or queer.
All were aged 16 years or above and came from regions over the U.S. “Nearly all participants was gay-identified, solitary, and had some university education,” the experts 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 for example HIV infection risk, willingness to take preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) - the drugs that assist in preventing HIV infection - and psychological distress.
“We examined how incarceration and police discrimination, that have roots found in enforcing light supremacy and societal heterosexism, are connected with one of the most pressing wellbeing crises among Black sexual minority men just like depression, anxiety, and HIV,” English explains.
As many as 43% of respondents reported having experienced law enforcement discrimination in the last year. These occurrences were most regularly reported by those that had experienced incarceration.
Those who reported having experienced high degrees of discrimination in the context of law enforcement also reported high levels of psychological distress.
The analysis also associated past-year police and police discrimination with an increased likelihood of participating in behaviors the researchers linked to a heightened threat of HIV infection.
Moreover, participants who all had experienced incarceration or perhaps police discrimination also showed a lower amount of willingness to have PrEP in comparison to peers who hadn't had these experiences.
“These findings transcend individual-level only explanations to provide structural-level insights about how precisely we think about Dark sexual minority men’s HIV risk,” notes analysis co-author Prof. Lisa Bowleg.
“The analysis rightly directs attention to the structural intersectional discrimination that negatively affects Black colored sexual minority men’s health,” Prof. Bowleg adds.
From their results, the investigators urge insurance policy changes, more study into - and advocacy against - U.S. police enforcement components that authorities connect with anti-Blackness and homophobia.
“Despite experiencing a disproportionate burden of violence and discrimination at the hands of the police, and intensely high carceral rates, Black queer men are largely invisible in discourse on anti-Black color policing and incarceration,” says study co-writer Joseph Carter.
“Our analysis provides empirical support for the intersectional health and wellbeing impacts of law enforcement and carceral discrimination that contain been systemically perpetrated onto Dark colored queer men.”
- Joseph Carter
Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com
