April Shepard
Webster University, USA
Title: Perceptions of HIV/AIDS among members of a black church in Arkansas: A grounded theory study
Biography
Biography: April Shepard
Abstract
African Americans continue to contract HIV/AIDS faster than other ethnic groups in the United States. In 2014, African Americans represented 54.1% of new AIDS cases and 45.2% of new HIV cases in Arkansas, representing only 15.4% of the population. The state has a significant number of patients diagnosed and not in care. In this grounded theory study, 12 participants described their perceptions of HIV/AIDS in a Black church setting. Participants’ perceptions are represented in three themes and seven subthemes. Three major themes emerged: disgrace is associated with HIV/AIDS, education is a factor in participant beliefs, and community outreach of the church in HIV/AIDS prevention. Relationships between these themes and subthemes formed the basis of a theory to represent the perspectives of members of this Black church with respect to a church engaging in HIV/AIDS education and prevention efforts within the African American community. According to that theory, known as faith-based support management, when developing a prevention, education, awareness, and/or training program, leaders in faith-based organizations must organize the ministry appropriate to a hierarchy of needs. Future research could attempt to replicate this study’s findings by increasing the sample size or testing the proposed theory by using a quantitative research methodology.