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Review
. 2016 Apr 25;3(2):242-254.
doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2016.2.242. eCollection 2016.

Reverse Migration, the Black Church and Sexual Health: Implications for Building HIV/AIDS Prevention Capacity in the Deep South

Pamela Payne Foster  1   2 , Martina Thomas  3 , Dwight Lewis  2
Affiliations
Review

Reverse Migration, the Black Church and Sexual Health: Implications for Building HIV/AIDS Prevention Capacity in the Deep South

Pamela Payne Foster et al. AIMS Public Health. .

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.

Keywords: African Americans; Deep South; HIV/AIDS; The Black Church; migration.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: There are no conflicts of interest for any of the authors.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Positive Influencers of HIV Prevention in Pastors
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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