205088 HIV conspiracy beliefs among racial/ethnic minority illicit drug users

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Carmen Masson, PhD , Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Nicole Pepper, MSSW , Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Courtney McKnight, MPH , Baron Edmond de Rothschild Chemical Dependency Institute, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY
Adrienne Wente, BA , Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Ashly E. Jordan, BA , Baron Edmond de Rothschild Chemical Dependency Institute, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY
Christopher Young, BA , Baron Edmond de Rothschild Chemical Dependency Institute, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY
Randy M. Seewald, MD , Methadone Maintenance Treatment Program, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY
Dale Mandelman, RN , Baron Edmond de Rothschild Chemical Dependency Institute, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY
Laura Guzman, JD , Mission Neighborhood Resource Center, San Francisco, CA
James Sorensen, PhD , Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
David C. Perlman, MD , Baron Edmond de Rothschild Chemical Dependency Institute, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY
Objective: We examined conspiracy beliefs about HIV among illicit drug users of three racial/ethnic groups. Methods: Participants of African-American (38%), Latino (33%), and non-Hispanic white (29%) backgrounds were recruited from community-based programs in New York City (n = 72) and San Francisco (n = 103). Interviews included an attitudinal assessment measuring beliefs concerning the origin of HIV as a genocidal conspiracy, information being withheld about the disease, and a cure for AIDS being withheld. Results: African Americans (45%) were more likely than non-Hispanic whites (24%) and Latinos (28%) to believe that HIV is a man-made virus (p < .05). African Americans (47%) as compared to non-Hispanic whites (22%) and Latinos (29%) believed that a cure for AIDS is being withheld from them (p < .05). African Americans (41%) were also more likely to hold the belief that AIDS was produced in a government laboratory than non-Hispanic whites (20%, p < .05). Both African Americans (32%) and Latinos (31%) were more likely than non-Hispanic whites (12%) to report that AIDS is a form of genocide against people of their race/ethnicity (p < .05). Conclusions: Racial/ethnic minority drug users, particularly African Americans, more often held HIV conspiracy beliefs than non-Hispanic whites. HIV prevention and treatment efforts with minorities should address possible conspiracy beliefs and sources of mistrust of medical and public health institutions. Interventions that encourage discussion about conspiracy beliefs may have the potential to reduce HIV related risk behaviors and enhance engagement in care among high risk groups of racial/ethnic minorities.

Learning Objectives:
1. To describe racial disparities regarding conspiracy beliefs about the orgin of HIV. 2. To discuss implications of conspiracy beliefs for HIV prevention strategies.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, HIV Interventions

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Infectious disease researcher in infections in drug users and other marginalized populations.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.