Church attendance in men who have sex with men diagnosed with HIV is associated with later presentation for HIV care

Nicholas Van Wagoner; Michael Mugavero; Andrew Westfall; John Hollimon; Larry Z Slater; Greer Burkholder; James L Raper; Edward W Hook 3rd

doi:10.1093/cid/cit689

Church attendance in men who have sex with men diagnosed with HIV is associated with later presentation for HIV care

Clin Infect Dis. 2014 Jan;58(2):295-9. doi: 10.1093/cid/cit689. Epub 2013 Nov 5.

Authors

Nicholas Van Wagoner¹, Michael Mugavero, Andrew Westfall, John Hollimon, Larry Z Slater, Greer Burkholder, James L Raper, Edward W Hook 3rd

Affiliation

¹ Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Abstract

We demonstrate an interdependent relationship between sexual behavior and church attendance on timing of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diagnosis and presentation for care. Men who have sex with men (MSM) and who attend church are more likely to present with lower CD4(+) T-lymphocyte counts than MSM who do not attend church.

Keywords: AIDS; HIV; church attendance; religion.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
CD4 Lymphocyte Count
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
HIV Infections / diagnosis*
HIV Infections / drug therapy*
HIV Infections / immunology
Homosexuality, Male*
Humans
Male
Religion*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding