A qualitative study on the experiences of HIV+ Black Caribbean MSM v1

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Banton: A qualitative explorative study of the experiences of Black Caribbean men who have sex with men(MSM)living with HIV in London

• IRAS ID

  158247

• Contact name

  Claudine Best

• Sponsor organisation

  City University

• Research summary

  While Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains a chronic illness, those living with the condition have seen vast improvements in the medical aspect of their care. However there are a number of groups who are both disproportionately affected by HIV and facing significant social challenges, of which Black Caribbean men who have sex with men (MSM) is one.
  This qualitative study seeks to document the experiences of four Black Caribbean MSM living with HIV (i.e. HIV+) in London. There have been few studies focusing exclusively on Black Caribbean MSM living with HIV.
  The study will seek to recruit black men born in the Caribbean and who identify as MSM. They will be recruited from the Homerton University Hospital Sexual Health Department and asked to take part in two (2) one (1) hour interviews. It will use a method of data collection designed to capture how people make sense of their life events. The data analysis will consider how far factors that participants are not fully aware of may have contributed to their understanding of their life events.
  It will also give insight and understanding of what it is like to live with a chronic health condition, particularly one which previous research has shown can be stigmatised. The study will highlight the impact of migration on the individuals involved. There are often negative attitudes to homosexuality in the participants's countries of origin, this research will show what is like to negotiate such circumstances. The knowledge gained from this research will give counselling psychologists ideas on the factors they could consider when working with Caribbean MSM males, specifically those living with HIV. From a methodological perspective, it is hoped that the study will add to the body of work using multiple data analysis techniques and illustrate how this approach enriches the understanding of the data.

• REC name

  London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  14/LO/1627

• Date of REC Opinion

  23 Sep 2014

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion