“Health for Me Is More Than Just the ‘Traditional’ Not Feeling Ill”: Gay Men Identify and Enhance the Assets that Promote Their Health and Well-Being

Abstract

Deficit-based approaches seldom consider protective contextual factors, characterise individuals with regard to deficiencies and might not facilitate health promotion efforts effectively. Although deficit-based primary human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention programmes for gay men are valued, they limit opportunities to focus on the assets that could promote the broader health and well-being of gay men. Conversely, strengths-based approaches could guide gay men to protect, maintain and promote their health and well-being by focusing on acceptance, support, community coherence and resilience. Yet, limited strengths-based health promotion programmes exist for gay men in South Africa and specifically in its North West province. The study aimed to explore and describe the assets of gay men in this province and the strengthening thereof to promote their health and well-being by applying appreciative inquiry. A snowball sample of 11 gay men participated in asynchronous virtual focus groups on a unique Microsoft Power Apps platform. Seven themes were constructed using thematic analysis. Healthier eating, enhanced mental health, being healthy, achieving balance, physical activity and financial well-being contribute to the broader health and well-being of gay men. The assets of gay men that promote their health and well-being include support, care, positivity, goals, abilities, a sense of achievement, self-acceptance, happiness and learning from past experiences. The study identified individual and community enablers or facilitators that enhance these assets and the broader health and well-being of gay men. The findings address the lack of strengths-based health promotion programmes for gay men and offer pathways for researchers and programme implementers to focus on the broader health and well-being of gay men.