Perceptions of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Vaccination Among Racially/Ethnically Diverse Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men With and Without HIV in the US South

Abstract Background The impact of COVID-19 on specific populations, including gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM), varies based on a range of factors such as underlying health conditions, access to health care, and other social determinants of health. Our community-based participatory research partnership sought to better understand perceptions about the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 vaccination, and related health care among GBMSM. Methods We collected, analyzed, and interpreted qualitative in-depth interview data from a diverse sample of GBMSM (N = 30). Using purposive sampling, we recruited native English (n = 15) and Spanish (n = 15) speakers and persons with HIV (n = 13) and persons without HIV (n = 17). We analyzed interview data using constant comparison, an approach to grounded theory. Results Mean age of participants was 33.4 (SD = 8.5). Seventeen themes emerged that were categorized into five domains: trust/mistrust of healthcare professionals, politicians, and the US government (n = 5 themes); engagement in COVID-19 prevention strategies (n = 2 themes); attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination (n = 3 themes); access to and use of health care (n = 4 themes); and impact of COVID-19 on social determinants of health (n = 3 themes). Conclusions This research increases our understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic among particularly minoritized and underserved communities: racially/ethnically diverse, English- and Spanish-speaking GBMSM with and without HIV. By addressing the unique needs and concerns of these communities and populations, we can foster more equitable health responses, enhancing both preventive healthcare delivery and preparedness for potential future outbreaks (e.g., monkeypox), epidemics, and pandemics.