Associations of HIV testing with anxiety and stress within the African American church: implications for faith-based HIV testing and treatment

Jennifer Stewart, Chakra Budhathoki, Keitra Thompson, Jill Hamilton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

The promotion of HIV testing among Black Americans is critical to reducing disproportionately high rates of HIV and AIDS. Anxiety and stress are often found to be associated with resistance to HIV testing. The Black Church, may have an important role in reducing stress and anxiety associated with HIV testing. In this cross-sectional survey-based study, we compared the responses of the congregants from two churches which offered testing and two which did not (n = 177). Data were analysed with descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, and multivariate logistic regression. We found that in churches without HIV testing, HIV-associated anxiety was significantly higher (OR = 4.60, p <.001; 95%CI: 2.03, 10.41) as were levels of stress (OR = 6.87, p <.001; 95%CI: 2.69, 17.56). These results suggest that churches willing to incorporate HIV testing may have profound impacts on destigmatising HIV testing and treatment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)478-488
Number of pages11
JournalMental Health, Religion and Culture
Volume20
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 28 2017

Keywords

  • HIV/AIDS
  • anxiety
  • community
  • faith
  • faith
  • mental health
  • spirituality
  • stress

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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