The Behavior of Same-Race Others and Its Effects on Black Patients' Attention to Publicly Presented HIV-Prevention Information. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Black Americans make up 13% of the U.S. population, yet account for 54% of HIV deaths and 44% of new HIV diagnoses. Why do Black Americans die from HIV at such a disproportionate rate? In the current study, we asked whether the presence and behavior of in-group peers in public health settings may influence Black Americans' attention to HIV information, given the racialized nature of HIV-stigma in Black American communities. In a quasi-experimental field study conducted in a public health clinic (N = 260), we found that Black patients were less likely to pay attention to HIV-prevention information in the presence of other Black patients, unless those patients were also paying attention to the information. In contrast, Black patients' attention was unaffected by the presence of White patients. We end by discussing the implications of these findings for health communication theories and health practice geared toward reducing racial-health disparities in the United States.

publication date

  • April 23, 2020

Research

keywords

  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
  • HIV Infections

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC7581553

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 85084153099

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1525/aa.1968.70.1.02a00950

PubMed ID

  • 32323571

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 36

issue

  • 10