HIV knowledge, risk and protective factors among West African forced migrants in New York City
Abstract
With ongoing political and social instability throughout the continent, many Africans have become forced migrants. Unlike immigrants who choose to migrate, forced migrants flee their countries in search of safety and often endure multiple traumatic events during their migration. Although there is a high incidence of newly-diagnosed HIV cases among West African immigrants in the New York City metropolitan area, there has been little research to understand this development. In order to gain insight into this trend, this pilot study explored HIV knowledge, risk and protective behaviors among 52 West African-born forced migrants in New York City. HIV risk behavior came primarily from unprotected heterosexual activities. While most participants were very knowledgeable about HIV transmission and risk factors, almost half reported that they had not used condoms during sexual activities in the past 6 months. Women were more knowledgeable about HIV transmission, yet reported significantly more STDs than men. Many participants did not know about HIV/AIDS treatment and could not identify HIV/AIDS services and resources within their immigrant communities. Factors influencing HIV risk and protective behaviors among this population are identified and discussed. Suggestions for future research and strategies to reduce risky behaviors while enhancing protective ones among forced West African migrants are highlighted.
About the Presenter
Adeyinká Akinşulurẹ-Smith, PhD, RPT-S
Associate Professor of Psychology, City College
Senior Psychologist, Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture, Bellevue Hospital Center
aakinsulure-smith@ccny.cuny.edu
Adeyinká M. Akinşulurẹ-Smith, Ph.D. holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in Counseling Psychology from Columbia University. Originally from Sierra Leone, she is a licensed psychologist and an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at City College of the City University of New York. She has extensive clinical experience working with war trauma survivors, refugees, asylees and asylum seekers, survivors of sexual violence, persons afflicted with and affected by HIV/AIDS, and culturally diverse populations. Since 1999, Dr. Akinşulurẹ-Smith has cared for forced migrants from around the world at the Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture.
Dr. Akinşulurẹ-Smith is a proud co-founder of Nah We Yone, Inc., a non-profit organization created in 1997 to proactively respond to war victims from the various communities within the African Diaspora. From 1997-2010, Nah We Yone served over 500 African refugees and asylees and their families in New York City, offering them direct services and referrals to legal, mental health, and social services. Dr. Akinşulurẹ-Smith and her co-founders at Nah We Yone are 2003 winners of New York City’s prestigious Union Square Awards. Dr. Akinşulurẹ-Smith received the Early Career Award from Teachers College, Columbia University in 2005. In 2009 the Hunter College Center for Community and Urban Health selected Dr. Akinşulurẹ-Smith to receive a four-year fellowship in the Research in HIV Intervention Skills for the Community program, funded by National Institute of Mental Health
From 2008-2010, she served on the American Psychological Association’s Task Force on the Psychosocial Effects of War on Children and Families Who are Refugees from Armed Conflict Residing in the United States. Along with Drs. Rasmussen and Chu, she is a founding member of the West African Families Project, a multi-site community research collaboration committed to developing psychosocial supports for West African immigrants in New York. In addition to research and scholarly publications, Dr. Akinşulurẹ-Smith has been integrally involved in human rights investigations in Sierra Leone with Physicians for Human Rights and the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone, Human Rights Division. In 2010, she was retained by Trial Chamber III to serve as a joint expert on gender crimes and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for all parties and participants in a case before the International Criminal Court.
View Dr. Akinşulurẹ-Smith’s presentation on female genital cutting (FGC) among West African-born forced migrant women in New York City.
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Leave questions and comments for this presenter below:
Dear Sarit,
Thanks for your thoughtful comments, there is definitely more work to be done here and much more to learn. The areas you touch upon are all vital for developing targeted interventions.
Yinka
Great presentation – this is an incredible important population and worthy of more in-depth study. I’m particularly interested in learning more about the gender discrepancy in STI infection…is it possible that the men are under-diagnosed? I’d also love to learn more about the psychological dynamics of sexual risk and condom use in this population – I’m glad to hear that psychological trauma did not seem associated with sexual risk, but I’m sure that there are additional psychological and social dynamics that enter into sexual risk.
Thanks so much for your kind comments and words of encouragement.
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An intriguing discussion is definitely worth comment. I do think that you ought to publish more about this subject matter, it may not be a taboo matter but typically folks don’t talk about such subjects. To the next! All the best!!
Dear Maureen,
Thank you so much for listening to the study and for your comments. Yinka
Dr. Adeyinká Akinşulurẹ-Smith’s presentation makes a major contribution to our knowledge base in examining the question of the relationship between HIV infection and forced migration. This pilot study has important public health implications. The presentation was professional and engaging.
Best wishes,
Maureen