Have you recently published US-based HIV research? Click here to share your manuscript

Search...

Publication Profiles

Harambee! 2.0: The Impact of HIV-Related and Intersectional Stigmas on HIV Testing Behaviors Among African Immigrant Communities in Seattle, Washington

Citation

Daniel NA, Hassan SA, Mohamed F, et al. Harambee! 2.0: The Impact of HIV-Related and Intersectional Stigmas on HIV Testing Behaviors Among African Immigrant Communities in Seattle, Washington. AIDS Behav. 2022;26(Suppl 1):149-164. doi:10.1007/s10461-021-03396-5

Implementation stage:

Pre-Implementation

Implementation outcomes reported:

Not applicable

Continuum target addressed:

HIV testing

Geography:

King County-WA

Study Participant Classification:

Recipients of care, Providers, Community member(s)

Plain Language Objectives

The researchers wanted to understand how HIV stigma, immigration experiences, race, language, religion, and beliefs about sexuality affected HIV testing in Ethiopian, Somali, and Eritrean communities around Seattle.

Plain Language Abstract

African immigrants in the United States are disproportionately affected by HIV, and stigma can delay testing. In this formative study, researchers conducted 30 key-informant interviews and five focus groups with 72 participants from Ethiopian, Somali, and Eritrean communities in King County, Washington. Participants included people living with HIV, health professionals, religious and community leaders, and community members. Across communities, participants described misconceptions and unclear messages about HIV, including limited understanding that HIV is treatable. Religious or moral beliefs about sex outside marriage also contributed to stigma. Immigration status, race or ethnicity, and preference for a language other than English interacted with HIV stigma and affected access to the U.S. health system and HIV testing. The findings can inform community-led approaches to encourage earlier testing while recognizing that stigma operates through several connected identities and institutions. This study was designed to guide future research and intervention development; it did not test a stigma-reduction program or measure changes in testing. The themes reflect the perspectives of those interviewed and should not be interpreted as prevalence estimates for all African immigrant communities.

Key Takeaways

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum

Publications

Barriers/Facilitators

Science Frameworks

Implementation Science Frameworks

Outcomes

Community Partnerships

Welcome to the Dashboard

This dashboard provides an accessible way to explore national and jurisdictional findings from implementation science research supporting the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative. The homepage gives you quick access to major sections of the site and highlights key insights drawn from ongoing research and community partnerships.

Navigation Bar

At the top of the page, you’ll find four main sections that guide your experience:

  • About explains the purpose of the dashboard, the research framework guiding this project, and how to interpret the data and publications included here.
  • Results presents visual summaries, charts, and findings from implementation science activities conducted across EHE jurisdictions.
  • Publications provides access to peer-reviewed articles, research outputs, and additional documentation relevant to EHE implementation science.
  • Community highlights survey findings, community partnerships, and engagement activities that support and shape local EHE strategies.

Search Function

Use the search bar at the top of the page to look up specific topics, terms, research areas, or publications. This search function scans the entire dashboard, making it easier to find exactly what you need.

Featured Carousel

At the center of the homepage is a rotating feature carousel that highlights key insights and featured data stories. Each panel includes a brief summary of the topic and an Explore button. Selecting Explore takes you directly into the corresponding area of the site—such as community partnerships, implementation outcomes, or specific research summaries—so you can dive deeper into the data.