Dr. LaRon E. Nelson, PhD, RN, FNP, FNAP, FAAN recently curated the historic special edition of the Journal of Urban Health devoted to Black MSM (men-who-have-sex-with-men) and HIV. Nelson’s introduction, “Awakening to an Intersectional Reality: Ending the HIV Epidemic in the USA Starts with Reducing Inequities among Black MSM,” offers a prescriptive action plan.
“Today, the USA is in the midst of an ambitious effort to end the HIV epidemic by the year 2030,” Nelson writes. “The scientific and public health communities understand that in order to achieve this goal for the nation we must better understand and accelerate progress towards ending the epidemic in Black MSM.”
According to CDC data, the lifetime risk of HIV infection among Black MSM is 1 in 2.
The special edition includes material examining how social and structural forces operate in local ecological contexts, the over-policing and criminalization of Black communities, and structural determinants such as intersecting racism and homophobia.
Dr. Nelson’s YSN colleague Dr. David Vlahov, PhD, RN, FAAN, who holds an editorial role at the Journal of Urban Health, praised Nelson’s leadership in assembling the issue.
“LaRon convened an august group of experts who collectively provide state-of-the-science skill on addressing HIV prevention and treatment for Black MSM,” Vlahov said. “The knowledge base had yet to catch up to the challenge and provide a framework and direction, which this issue advances. The opportunity for developing and delivering nursing and public health interventions is aided by the content of this issue.”
Read the full article here.