Managing the move: HIV and coping for men moving to Johannesburg

Men in South Africa are disproportionately underrepresented in HIV care, and men who migrate face challenges using HIV services. Positive coping skills are critical for effective healthcare decision-making, yet little is known how men’s HIV status and mobility-related stressors affect their coping strategies. Johannesburg is home to ∼5 million people who have relocated from elsewhere, mostly men. From February-April 2024, we conducted a cross-sectional survey among men who moved to Johannesburg, including questions on HIV status and the Soweto Coping Scale, with problem-focused/emotional and religious coping scores as summed responses. We fitted linear regression models using data from 157 men with complete responses to assess associations between coping scores with HIV status and mobility variables. Religious coping score was 2.21 points higher among men living with HIV versus others (p = 0.026). Religious (2.34 points higher; p = 0.024) and problem-focused/emotional (2.93 points higher; p = 0.022) scores were higher among men with citizenship/permanent versus those without. Targeted coping support for men without permanent residency status may improve engagement in HIV care. Although our findings are not generalizable to all migrant population, further research may help to understand how religious beliefs impact coping and clinical outcomes among South African men living with HIV to inform interventions.