Attitudes toward HIV testing, awareness of HIV campaigns, and using social networking sites to deliver HIV testing messages in the age of social media: a qualitative study of young black men.

Abstract

This study assessed attitudes toward HIV and awareness of previous HIV prevention campaigns among young black men in the United States of America (USA). The study also ascertained the appropriateness of HIV testing messages for young black men and explored the use of social networking sites to deliver HIV testing messages for social media marketing campaigns. Nineteen (n = 19) black male college students attending a public university in Atlanta, GA, USA from September 2016 to October 2016 participated in three focus groups. The focus groups consisted of a group interview querying experiences with HIV and STI testing, awareness of HIV campaigns, solicited feedback on campaign messages and the use of social networking sites to deliver messages. Data analysis involved the grounded theory approach to identify emergent themes. Fear, stigma and low risk perception were discussed as barriers to HIV testing. HIV prevention, social support and new sexual partners were discussed as reasons for testing. There was a general lack of awareness of existing HIV testing campaigns. Messaging with a universal appeal and disseminated through Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat may counter narratives of fear, stigma and low risk perception to increase HIV testing among young black men.