It’s Complicated: Religion and the HIV/AIDS Epidemic Among Black Same-Gender-Loving Men in the South Open Access

Abstract

Through a phenomenological-ethnographic lens, this dissertation examines the ways religion and spirituality intersect with the HIV/AIDS epidemic among Black men who have sex with men, BMSM, in Atlanta, GA. The goal of this work is to draw attention to the cultural and phenomenological aspects of lived religious and spiritual experience, which are not normally taken into account or measured by those in the health sciences or in healthcare provision. Through the unique power of personal narrative, this dissertation highlights the complexities of the intersections of religion and spirituality in the lives of HIV-positive BMSM, who are in care at one of Atlanta's leading providers comprehensive of providers of HIV/AIDS care. Coupled with the narratives of healthcare providers, this work gives a rare glimpse into the way lifeworlds of providers and patients intersect. It thickly describes how religion and spirituality can overlap with the health of BMSM in ways that can be health-positive, e.g. engaging in safer sex practices, getting into/remaining in the HIV care continuum, feeling as though they have social support, and/or a greater sense of emotional or physical well-being. Conversely, it also points to how religion and spirituality can overlap with the health of BMSM in ways that are health-negative, e.g. engaging in risky sexual activity or drug use, leading to a culture of silence and shame around same-sex sexual desire and HIV/AIDS, which can result in: the lack of HIV status disclosure, lower engagement in the HIV continuum of care, the loss of social support and social capital, and/or decreased emotional or physical well-being.

Table of Contents

Introduction Introduction to an Epidemic 1

Chapter 1 Conceptualizing the Role of Religion and Spirituality in the Health Journey with HIV 23

Chapter 2 In The Life: Growing Up and Life before HIV Diagnosis 43

Chapter 3 In The Life: Responding to Life with HIV 81

Chapter 4 In Their Words: Religion and Spirituality in the Healthcare Setting 115

Chapter 5 Provider’s Stories: Religion and Spirituality in the Healthcare Setting 135

Chapter 6 Concluding Perspectives: Addressing Religion and Spirituality through Lived Experience 166

Works Cited 177

About this Dissertation

Rights statement

• Permission granted by the author to include this thesis or dissertation in this repository. All rights reserved by the author. Please contact the author for information regarding the reproduction and use of this thesis or dissertation.

School	Laney Graduate School
Department	Religion
Subfield / Discipline	American Religious Cultures
Degree	Ph.D.
Submission	Dissertation
Language	English
Research Field	Religion, General Health Sciences, Public Health American Studies
Keyword	Black Men Religious Studies Spirituality Epidemic Lived Religion Protestant African American MSM Practices HIV Healthcare Public Health Georgia Black Church AIDS Beliefs Atlanta LGBT Same-Sex Men Who Have Sex With Men Christian South Christianity Gay
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Bobbi Patterson, Emory University Gary Laderman, Emory University
Committee Members	John Blevins, Emory University Ellen Idler, Emory University Dianne Stewart, Emory University

Last modified

Primary PDF

Thumbnail	Title	Date Uploaded	Actions
	It’s Complicated: Religion and the HIV/AIDS Epidemic Among Black Same-Gender-Loving Men in the South ()	2019-07-11 14:06:49 -0400	Press to Select an action Download

Supplemental Files

Thumbnail	Title	Date Uploaded	Actions