Reverse migration, the black church and sexual health: implications for building HIV/AIDS prevention capacity in the Deep South

Foster, Pamela Payne; Thomas, Martina; Lewis, Dwight

Reverse migration, the black church and sexual health: implications for building HIV/AIDS prevention capacity in the Deep South

Files

publichealth-03-02-242.pdf (506.41 KB)

Authors

Foster, Pamela Payne

Thomas, Martina

Lewis, Dwight

Issue Date

2016-04-25

Type

Article

Language

en_US

Keywords

HIV/AIDS , Migration , African Americans , Deep South , The Black Church

Abstract

The Black Church has long been purported as being strongly influential in the lives of Blacks in America. Recent U.S. census data trends highlight a “reverse migration” pattern where Blacks are moving back to the South from larger metropolitan areas in other U.S. geographical regions. This migration pattern parallels the increasing HIV/AIDS prevalence among Blacks in the Deep South. This paper reviews both the historical and current migration patterns among Blacks, as well as the current HIV/AIDS epidemic among Blacks in the Deep South. Thereafter, the authors discuss an existing framework for increasing HIV/AIDS prevention capacity through a conceptual connection of migration, religion and sexual health. The authors use case studies to support the proposed framework. It is hoped that the framework could be used to address HIV/AIDS health disparities and other chronic diseases affecting Blacks in America.

Citation

Foster, P. P., Thomas, M., & Lewis, D. (2016). Reverse Migration, the Black Church and Sexual Health: Implications for Building HIV/AIDS Prevention Capacity in the Deep South. AIMS public health, 3(2), 242–254. https://doi.org/10.3934/publichealth.2016.2.242

Publisher

AIMS Public Health