PLoS ONE (Jan 2023)

Associations between police harassment and distrust in and reduced access to healthcare among Black sexual minority men: A longitudinal analysis of HPTN 061.

  • Jonathan P Feelemyer,
  • Dustin T Duncan,
  • Molly Remch,
  • Jay S Kaufman,
  • Charles M Cleland,
  • Amanda B Geller,
  • Typhanye V Dyer,
  • Joy D Scheidell,
  • Rodman E Turpin,
  • Russell A Brewer,
  • Christopher Hucks-Ortiz,
  • Medha Mazumdar,
  • Kenneth H Mayer,
  • Maria R Khan

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0290378
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 18, no. 8
p. e0290378

Abstract

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ObjectiveEvaluate associations between racialized and homophobia-based police harassment (RHBPH) and healthcare distrust and utilization among Black Sexual Minority Men (BSMM).MethodsWe utilized data from a longitudinal cohort study from HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) 061 with baseline, six and 12 month follow-up assessments. Using multivariable analysis, we evaluated associations between RHBPH and healthcare distrust and utilization reported at the 6 and 12 month visits.ResultsOf 1553 BSMM present at baseline, 1160 were available at six-month follow-up. In multivariable analysis, increasing frequency of RHBPH was associated with increasing levels of distrust in healthcare providers (aOR 1.31, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.74) and missing 50% or more of healthcare visits at six-month follow-up (aOR 1.93, 95% CI: 1.09, 3.43).ConclusionsRecent experiences of RHBPH are associated with reduced trust in and access to healthcare among BSMM, with more frequent RHBPH associated with greater vulnerability.