Conspiracy Beliefs about the Origin of HIV/AIDS among African Americans and Whites with HIV/AIDS in Alabama Black Belt

BACKGROUND: Little is known about HIV/AIDS conspiracy beliefs among HIV-positive patients. This study examined the beliefs about the origin of HIV/AIDS as a genocidal conspiracy among African American and White patients with HIV/AIDS. METHODS: A survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire among 258 African Americans and 97 whites attending a southeastern Alabama clinic that provides medical and social support services to HIV-positive persons. The survey included attitudinal assessment measuring beliefs concerning the origin of AIDS as a genocidal conspiracy against blacks, HIV is a manmade virus, and AIDS was produced in the government lab. Multiple regressions were used for the analysis. RESULTS: African Americans (79.3%) were more likely than whites (20.7%) to believe that AIDS is a manmade virus (p<.05). African Americans (77.8%) as compared to whites (22.2%) believed that AIDS is a form of genocide against blacks (p<.05). African Americans (76.3%) were also more likely to hold the belief that AIDS was produced in the government laboratory than whites (23.7%). Results of the regression analyses also indicate that race, was by far, the most important predictor of conspiracy beliefs. African American patients were more likely than whites to endorse the conspiracy beliefs. The set of demographic variables explained a small amount of the variance in conspiracy beliefs (R2 = 0.082). Conclusions: A significant proportion of African American patients with HIV/AIDS endorsed HIV/AIDS conspiracy beliefs. This suggests that some African Americans still do not trust the government and the health care system.