Perspectives of the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination among racially and ethnically diverse gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men with and without HIV in the US South: findings from qualitative individual in-depth interviews
Abstract Background The impact of COVID-19 on specific populations, including gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM), varies based on a range of factors such as access to health care, underlying health behaviors and conditions, and social determinants of health. Our community-bas...
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BMC
2025-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Infectious Diseases |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-10583-5 |
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| author | Jake S. Waldman Jorge Alonzo Lilli Mann-Jackson Sandy K. Aguilar-Palma Manuel Garcia Benjamin D. Smart Scott D. Rhodes |
| author_facet | Jake S. Waldman Jorge Alonzo Lilli Mann-Jackson Sandy K. Aguilar-Palma Manuel Garcia Benjamin D. Smart Scott D. Rhodes |
| author_sort | Jake S. Waldman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The impact of COVID-19 on specific populations, including gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM), varies based on a range of factors such as access to health care, underlying health behaviors and conditions, and social determinants of health. Our community-based participatory research partnership sought to better understand perspectives about and experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 vaccination, and related health care among GBMSM. Methods We collected, analyzed, and interpreted qualitative in-depth interview data from a diverse sample of GBMSM (N = 30) in North Carolina, USA. Using purposive sampling, we recruited native English (n = 15) and Spanish (n = 15) speakers and persons with HIV (n = 13) and persons without HIV (n = 17). We analyzed interview data using constant comparison, an approach to grounded theory. Results Participant mean was 33.4 (SD = 8.5) years. Sixteen themes emerged that were categorized into five domains: trust/mistrust of politicians, healthcare professionals, and the US government (n = 4 themes); engagement in COVID-19 prevention strategies (n = 2 themes); attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination (n = 3 themes); access to and use of health care (n = 4 themes); and impact of COVID-19 on social determinants of health and mental health (n = 3 themes). Conclusions This research increases our understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic among particularly minoritized and underserved communities: racially and ethnically diverse, English- and Spanish-speaking GBMSM with and without HIV in the US South. By addressing the unique needs and concerns of these communities, we can promote more equitable public health responses; enhance preventive healthcare delivery; improve preparedness for subsequent outbreaks (e.g., mpox), epidemics, and pandemics; and be better equipped to support delivery and uptake of potential future preventive HIV vaccines among communities impacted by health disparities. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a224f7a839c3437a911f9b44cc659546 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2334 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj-art-a224f7a839c3437a911f9b44cc6595462025-02-09T12:14:43ZengBMCBMC Infectious Diseases1471-23342025-02-012511910.1186/s12879-025-10583-5Perspectives of the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination among racially and ethnically diverse gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men with and without HIV in the US South: findings from qualitative individual in-depth interviewsJake S. Waldman0Jorge Alonzo1Lilli Mann-Jackson2Sandy K. Aguilar-Palma3Manuel Garcia4Benjamin D. Smart5Scott D. Rhodes6Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School of MedicineDepartment of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School of MedicineDepartment of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School of MedicineDepartment of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School of MedicineDepartment of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School of MedicineDepartment of Clinical Neurosciences, Division of Psychology, Karolinska InstitutetDepartment of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School of MedicineAbstract Background The impact of COVID-19 on specific populations, including gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM), varies based on a range of factors such as access to health care, underlying health behaviors and conditions, and social determinants of health. Our community-based participatory research partnership sought to better understand perspectives about and experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 vaccination, and related health care among GBMSM. Methods We collected, analyzed, and interpreted qualitative in-depth interview data from a diverse sample of GBMSM (N = 30) in North Carolina, USA. Using purposive sampling, we recruited native English (n = 15) and Spanish (n = 15) speakers and persons with HIV (n = 13) and persons without HIV (n = 17). We analyzed interview data using constant comparison, an approach to grounded theory. Results Participant mean was 33.4 (SD = 8.5) years. Sixteen themes emerged that were categorized into five domains: trust/mistrust of politicians, healthcare professionals, and the US government (n = 4 themes); engagement in COVID-19 prevention strategies (n = 2 themes); attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination (n = 3 themes); access to and use of health care (n = 4 themes); and impact of COVID-19 on social determinants of health and mental health (n = 3 themes). Conclusions This research increases our understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic among particularly minoritized and underserved communities: racially and ethnically diverse, English- and Spanish-speaking GBMSM with and without HIV in the US South. By addressing the unique needs and concerns of these communities, we can promote more equitable public health responses; enhance preventive healthcare delivery; improve preparedness for subsequent outbreaks (e.g., mpox), epidemics, and pandemics; and be better equipped to support delivery and uptake of potential future preventive HIV vaccines among communities impacted by health disparities.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-10583-5COVID-19HIVVaccinationGayBisexualMSM |
| spellingShingle | Jake S. Waldman Jorge Alonzo Lilli Mann-Jackson Sandy K. Aguilar-Palma Manuel Garcia Benjamin D. Smart Scott D. Rhodes Perspectives of the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination among racially and ethnically diverse gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men with and without HIV in the US South: findings from qualitative individual in-depth interviews BMC Infectious Diseases COVID-19 HIV Vaccination Gay Bisexual MSM |
| title | Perspectives of the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination among racially and ethnically diverse gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men with and without HIV in the US South: findings from qualitative individual in-depth interviews |
| title_full | Perspectives of the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination among racially and ethnically diverse gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men with and without HIV in the US South: findings from qualitative individual in-depth interviews |
| title_fullStr | Perspectives of the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination among racially and ethnically diverse gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men with and without HIV in the US South: findings from qualitative individual in-depth interviews |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perspectives of the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination among racially and ethnically diverse gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men with and without HIV in the US South: findings from qualitative individual in-depth interviews |
| title_short | Perspectives of the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination among racially and ethnically diverse gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men with and without HIV in the US South: findings from qualitative individual in-depth interviews |
| title_sort | perspectives of the covid 19 pandemic and vaccination among racially and ethnically diverse gay bisexual and other men who have sex with men with and without hiv in the us south findings from qualitative individual in depth interviews |
| topic | COVID-19 HIV Vaccination Gay Bisexual MSM |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-10583-5 |
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