Barriers and facilitators to HIV testing among African and Caribbean heritage communities: a mixed methods study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

African and Caribbean heritage (ACH) communities in the UK face disproportionately high rates of HIV and often experience delayed diagnoses, worsening health inequities. Increasing HIV testing in these communities is essential to address these disparities and support the UK's HIV reduction targets. This study examines barriers and facilitators to HIV testing among Bristol's ACH community, a high-prevalence area with significant rates of late diagnoses, filling a critical gap in context-specific data.

Methods

Using a mixed-methods approach, this study combined 29 in-depth interviews and 41 online surveys, capturing ACH community members' views on HIV stigma, healthcare trust and testing experiences. Data were thematically analysed and mapped to the Social Ecologica

SUBMITTER: Adeniyi T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12911657 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature