# Ending the HIV and Stigma Syndemic: Re-framing Health Education Content for Southern Black Churches

> **NIH ALLCDC U01** · UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS · 2021 · $349,813

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
In response to RFA-PS-21-001 Minority HIV Research Initiative (MARI), the goal of this
application is to use community-based participatory research and intervention mapping to
address priorities of Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE): A Plan for America. We will use the 3-year
period to leverage HIV surveillance data and photovoice narratives of internalizations of stigma
experienced by PLWH to inform, implement, and evaluate a biblically-inspired, church-based
intervention tailored for predominantly Black religious congregations located in the Memphis
metropolitan area, which has been identified as a high burden EHE jurisdiction in the Deep
South. In Phase 1, we will analyze community surveillance data to identify protective factors and
behavioral risks which may facilitate and impede HIV prevention efforts, respectively. These
data subsequently will inform the pilot intervention. In Phase 2, we will randomly assign N=10
churches to the HIV education + intervention and an additional N=10 churches to the standard
HIV education intervention (control) arms. Within these churches, we will randomly select n=10
congregants per church (Total n=200 congregants) and administer a survey assessing a variety
of health promoting behaviors, perceived HIV risk, knowledge of PrEP, HIV testing history, and
HIV-related attitudes/beliefs (i.e., stigma). The unique cultural and contextual landscape of the
Memphis urban/rural metropolitan area blends historical beliefs and perspectives that have
indirectly attributed to HIV-related stigma. The proposed research will utilize the expertise of an
established HIV coalition of LGBTQ+ gatekeepers, faith leaders, and academic researchers to
disentangle some of the known and unknown determinants that may contribute to HIV racial
inequities in the Deep South. Ultimately, we anticipate this research will inform a subsequent
larger efficacy trial. The public health significance includes normalizing HIV prevention and
testing behaviors, promoting stigma reduction, and garnering faith-based partnerships, which
dovetail current priorities detailed in the Memphis EHE plan addressing both ‘diagnose’ and
‘treat’ pillars.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10285705
- **Project number:** 1U01PS005211-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS
- **Principal Investigator:** LATRICE C. PICHON
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** ALLCDC
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $349,813
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-06-01 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10285705

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10285705, Ending the HIV and Stigma Syndemic: Re-framing Health Education Content for Southern Black Churches (1U01PS005211-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10285705. Licensed CC0.

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