Document Type

Thesis

Date of Degree Completion

Spring 2021

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Sociology

Committee Chair

Griff Tester

Second Committee Member

Jill Hoxmeier

Third Committee Member

Anne Cubilie

Abstract

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective HIV-prevention method that includes HIV-negative individuals taking a daily anti-retroviral medication and regularly visiting a provider. Since 2012, when Truvada was approved, uptake has been increasing but is still low, and disparities exist among gay and other men who have sex with men (GMSM) of color. This review identifies the qualitative methods used in PrEP studies and compares approaches used in studies with samples of white GMSM and GMSM of color to those only sampling GMSM of color. To locate peer-reviewed studies of the social dimensions of PrEP, published between 2010 and 2020, I searched data bases using key words, excluding quantitative studies, and ended up with a total of 49 articles. Studies using samples of GMSM of color were more likely to take extra steps to study men of color, compared to scholars who sampled GMSM of color and white GMSM. The findings suggest that, to build trust and comfort among GMSM of color, it would be useful for PrEP scholars to reflect on the relationship between the researcher and participants, as it relates to race, ethnicity, sexuality and gender, to recruit from and collect data in places created by and/or for GMSM of color, and to take additional steps to protect their privacy. Additionally, in published manuscripts, PrEP scholars need to report more details about methodological strategies used so that practices for studying these hard-to-reach populations can be evaluated and improved.

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