MSM's Versus Health Care Providers’ Perceptions of Barriers to Uptake of HIV/AIDS-Related Interventions: Systematic Review and Meta-Synthesis of Qualitative and Quantitative Evidence

ABSTRACT

To compare the perceptions of men who have sex with men (MSM) and health care providers (HCPs) on barriers to uptake of HIV/AIDS-related interventions using existing quantitative and qualitative data. Systematic review and meta-synthesis was employed to combine data from both groups. Based on studies focusing on MSM and HCPs, knowledge about the intervention and intervention's cost emerged as major barriers to uptake whereas HIV- or homosexuality-related stigma/discrimination was a barrier in studies focusing on MSM alone. Lack of practice guidelines was barrier among HCPs only. Few studies exist that focus on perceptions of barriers by HCPs.

KEYWORDS:

• HIV/AIDS
• systematic review
• mixed methods
• thematic analysis