A Review of Cultural Influences on Risk for HIV and Culturally-Responsive Risk Mitigation Strategies Among African Immigrants in the US

There is a paucity of research on HIV risk factors and risk reduction among African immigrants living in the US. This is despite the fact that the literature on HIV prevention and treatment continues to grow. We conducted a focused review to identify cultural factors contributing to the high incidence of HIV among African immigrants and best practices to increase engagement in HIV prevention services in this population. We conducted a search for empirical research published between 2009 and 2019, yielding 17 relevant studies with 16 unique samples. Inadequate knowledge about HIV transmission, low HIV risk perception, and stigma may be barriers to engaging in HIV prevention. Targeted interventions included bundled HIV testing, flexible scheduling, and involvement of community leaders in intervention planning and implementation. Implications for practice and directions for future research among this population are discussed.

Automated summary

Research on HIV risk factors and risk reduction among African immigrants in the US is lacking, despite the growing literature on HIV prevention and treatment. Cultural factors and lack of engagement in HIV prevention services were identified as key contributors to the high incidence of HIV among African immigrants. Targeted interventions such as bundled HIV testing, flexible scheduling, and involving community leaders in intervention planning and implementation are recommended to overcome barriers to engagement in HIV prevention.