Barriers to access healthcare among undocumented HIV+ African Immigrants in New York City: How fear of disclosure impacts behavior and health

African immigrants in specific urban centers, including New York City, account for a disproportionate number of HIV diagnoses. However, research on the social role HIV plays in these communities and how perceptions of HIV status affect individuals' use of medical and social services in order to improve these services is lacking. Despite patient confidentiality laws regarding HIV and citizenship status, this study hypothesizes that the fear of being detained, and or deported poses a significant barrier in preventing HIV+ immigrants from accessing necessary health and social services; thereby decreasing their access to and maintenance in care. This study aims to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze how fear of disclosure of both HIV and immigration status to providers of social and health services, or to members of their community, adversely affects the health and wellbeing of HIV positive Africans living in New York City. The data presented will utilize a multi-method approach through paper-based surveys, in-person interviews, and focus group discussions in English and French with 100 undocumented, non-randomized African immigrants accessing services at an African NGO in Harlem, New York. Learning Objectives - Conference participants will develop skills to identify behavioral changes and survival strategies employed by HIV positive immigrants in response to immigration status and determine how these actions impact their health, uptake of care, and support from their communities. The results of this research will serve as a resource tool to enable advocates and health practitioners to recognize these behaviors and devise methods to challenge the overall system of civil detention and deportation from an HIV/AIDS and human rights perspective.