The Role of the Primary Romantic Relationship in HIV Care Engagement Outcomes Among Young HIV-Positive Black Men Who Have Sex with Men

Main Partner Relationships and the HIV Care Cascade: Examining the Predictive Utility of Sexual Agreements, Partner Concordance, and Drug Use Among Sexual Minority Men Living With HIV in the USA

BACKGROUND

The past 15 years have seen increasing attention to relationship factors among sexual minority male (SMM) couples at high risk for HIV infection. Research has largely focused on HIV prevention outcomes. Outcomes relevant to SMM living with HIV have received relatively less attention.

PURPOSE

This study evaluated associations between relational covariates (relationship status, sexual agreements, and seroconcordance) and HIV care cascade outcomes (having a current antiretroviral therapy [ART] prescription, ART adherence, viral load (VL) testing, and VL detectability) above and beyond cannabis and stimulant drug use.

METHODS

Adult SMM (n = 36,874) living with HIV in the USA were recruited between November 1, 2017 and March 15, 2020 through social networking applications. They completed a cross-sectional survey online.

RESULTS

Nonmonogamous SMM with serodiscordant partners were most likely to have an ART prescription. Those with seroconcordant partners (regardless of sexual agreements) were least likely to be adherent. While relational covariates were not associated with VL testing, SMM in nonmonogamous relationships with serodiscordant partners were significantly more likely to have an undetectable VL. Those in monogamous relationships with seroconcordant partners were significantly less likely to have an undetectable VL.

CONCLUSIONS

SMM with seroconcordant partners and monogamous sexual agreements may experience diminished interpersonal motivation for HIV care engagement. HIV care cascade retention messages that emphasize the prevention of onward transmission may have limited relevance for these SMM. Novel intervention strategies are needed to enhance HIV care outcomes in this population, ideally ones that incorporate attention to drug use.

The influence of the significant other on treatment adherence in chronic pain management: a qualitative analysis

Objectives. Adherence to treatment recommendations is critical for optimising quality of life for individuals with chronic pain, however adherence rates are low. This study explores the role that significant others are perceived to play in supporting or impeding treatment adherence, as well as examining patient views of the impact of their adherence regimes on their significant others.Design. 25 treatment seeking adults with chronic pain, who were currently living with a romantic partner or adult family member, took part in individual semi-structured interviews.Main outcome measures Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis.Results. Three treatment adherence support themes emerged: social support (emotional, instrumental), positive social control, and supporting autonomy. Participants did not perceive significant others as having any negative influence on their adherence. By contrast, patients perceived that their adherence behaviors had both positive and negative effects on their significant others.Conclusions. These data present an encouraging perspective on the interpersonal context of coping with chronic pain. Significant others facilitated adherence in a range of ways. Future research identifying how best to integrate significant other support into patient self-management programs is needed, in order to lift the poor treatment adherence rates that are noted in the literature.

Socio-Ecological Influences on HIV Care Engagement: Perspectives of Young Black Men Who Have Sex with Men Living with HIV in the Southern US

Young Black men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV evidence the lowest rates of linkage to care and viral suppression of all US MSM. Kentucky, identified by the US Department of Health and Human Services as a "hot spot" state with elevated HIV incidence compared to the rest of the country, exhibits similar racialized outcomes. Structural, interpersonal, and individual drivers of engagement along the HIV care continuum among people living with HIV have been identified, primarily through quantitative designs. However, the mechanisms by which these factors shape HIV care engagement, and the ways they may combine or reinforce each other, as well as from the lived experience of young Black MSM living with HIV, have been studied to a lesser extent. In this study, a purposive sample of n = 29 HIV-positive young Black MSM (age M = 25 years old; 38% retained in care) residing in Kentucky participated in in-depth interviews. Factors that were most influential on engagement varied along the continuum, with health insurance status and knowledge of HIV being relatively more influential to diagnosis, and housing stability, psychological processes, and interpersonal relationships being more influential on retention. For some participants, barriers to care at multiple levels had a mutually influencing and intensifying impact on care engagement. Additional efforts to center the voices of young Black MSM living with HIV will help illuminate acceptable and sustainable interventions for increasing their care engagement and narrowing persistent racial disparities in HIV morbidity and mortality.

A Systematic Review of Black American Same-Sex Couples Research: Laying the Groundwork for Culturally-Specific Research and Interventions

ABSTRACTThis article presents the findings of a systematic review of the empirical literature related to Black American same-sex couples (BASCs). We found 16 articles that met inclusion criteria. Most articles were published in journals that focused on interdisciplinary studies, HIV/AIDS, and couples and families' studies. Approximately 63% of the articles reported external funding support. However, only one of these grants was awarded to a Black investigator. Articles predominately focused on BASCs composed of Black sexual minority men residing in major U.S. cities. Only 25% of the articles focused on couples where both partners were Black. Most studies were cross-sectional, used convenience samples, and were reported without mention of a theoretical framework that explicated the philosophical assumptions that guided the research. The articles focused on a range of topics such as resilience, relationship dynamics, couple-level social support, rituals with extended families, and partner-health associations. The implications of these findings for advancing culturally-specific behavioral and social science health research and interventions with BASCs are presented.

"We in This Fight Together…": HIV Treatment and Prevention Among Couples of HIV-Discordant Black and Latino Men Who Have Sex with Men

HIV-positive Black and Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) have substantial challenges accessing and engaging in HIV care. Findings presented here are an analysis of 14 HIV-discordant couples (N = 28) from Atlanta, GA; Baltimore, MD; Chicago, IL; Los Angeles, CA; and Washington, DC. One-hour in-depth interviews were conducted. Interviews were analyzed using a qualitative content analysis approach. Most couples reported relationship fears associated with delayed disclosure, HIV care engagement instigated by the HIV-uninfected partner, and varying knowledge and concern about the impacts of HIV infection and risk reduction. Findings suggest an opportunity to jointly educate and treat MSM of color in HIV-discordant relationships to improve engagement in ART and PrEP care and adherence.

Study protocol: a pilot randomised waitlist-controlled trial of a dyadic mobile health intervention for black sexual-minority male couples with HIV in the USA

INTRODUCTION

HIV care engagement is lower among black sexual-minority men relative to other racial/ethnic groups of sexual-minority men. Being in a primary relationship is generally associated with more successful HIV care engagement across various populations. However, among black sexual-minority men, the association between primary relationship status and HIV-related outcomes is inconsistent across the HIV care continuum. Given the ubiquity of mobile technology access and use among racial/ethnic minority communities, leveraging mobile technology for HIV care engagement appears a promising intervention strategy. This paper outlines the protocol of the LetSync study, a pilot randomised controlled trial of a mobile health app intervention developed using the Framework of Dyadic HIV Care Engagement to improve care-engagement outcomes among black sexual-minority male couples living with HIV.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Eighty black sexual-minority men in couples (n=160) will be enrolled to pilot test the LetSync app. At least one member of each dyad must be both HIV-positive and self-identify as black/African-American. Couples will be randomised to either a waitlist-control arm or an intervention that uses relationship-based approach to improve HIV care engagement. We will assess feasibility and acceptability of trial procedures and intervention protocols based on predefined metrics of feasibility and acceptability. Execution of the study will yield the opportunity to conduct analyses to test the measurement and analysis protocol on antiretroviral therapy adherence by comparing the intervention and waitlist-control arms on self-reported and biological (hair sample) measures of adherence.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Study staff will obtain electronic consent from all participants. This study has been approved by the University of California (UCSF) Institutional Review Board. Study staff will work with the Community Advisory Board at the UCSF Center for AIDS Prevention Studies Board to disseminate results to participants and the community via open discussions, presentations, journal publications and/or social media.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04951544.

Exploring the role of LGBT-affirming churches in health promotion for Black sexual minority men

In the USA, Black sexual minority men (BSMM) remain disproportionately impacted upon by HIV and other sexual health issues. Individuals who attend church have lower rates of morbidity and mortality than those that do not; however, church attendance presents a paradox of being protective for some health outcomes and a risk for others among this population. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) affirming churches may offer support, but little is known about the role of LGBT-affirming churches in the lives of BSMM and how they may impact HIV and other health outcomes. This study explored the role of LGBT-affirming churches in the lives of BSMM. Nine focus groups (N = 52) were conducted in Baltimore City, Maryland between December 2017 and April 2018. Thematic analysis evaluated domains related to how men perceived, experienced, and engaged with LGBT-affirming churches. Three primary themes identified: (1) preferring traditional church environments over LGBT-affirming churches; (2) experiencing the LGBT-affirming church as a space of acceptance, emotional healing, and modelling loving same-sex relationships; and (3) perceiving LGBT-affirming churches as opportunities to engage community members to promote the well-being of BSMM. A secondary theme identified involvement in the house and ballroom community as an LGBT-affirming religious experience.

The Influence of Shared or Separate Partner Residence on HIV Testing Among Latino Immigrants in the United States

BACKGROUND

The relationship context is influential in shaping HIV risk and preventive behaviors. Yet, there is little understanding about how shared or separate residence of partners shapes perceptions that affect HIV prevention.

METHODS

We explored how shared or separate residence from one's partner impacts HIV testing intentions among Latino immigrants in the USA. We analyzed data from 206 Latino immigrants residing in New York City, and examined three potential models to assess the relationships between partner residence, partner approval of HIV testing, and HIV testing behaviors.

RESULTS

Results indicated that shared residence was associated with greater partner approval to test for HIV (B = 0.48, 95% CI 0.01, 0.96, p = .04), and in turn, higher partner approval was associated with greater intention to test for HIV in the next 12 months (B = 0.38, 95% CI 0.15, 0.62., p < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggest the need to consider partner residency as an important factor in shaping determinants of HIV testing behaviors. Conceptualization of couples as living separately, across national borders, is warranted for couple-based health interventions given the current socio-political climate in the USA. Future research focused on couple-based HIV prevention should examine strategies and policies to preserve or strengthen partner dynamics among couples living apart.

The Effect of Partner Serostatus and Relationship Duration on HIV Medication Adherence

High adherence rates to antiretroviral medications are necessary for people living with HIV/AIDS. The current study focuses on relationship-level predictors of HIV medication adherence by testing whether adherence rates differ by dyadic serostatus (seroconcordant vs. serodiscordant couples) among individuals with HIV in romantic relationships. Results showed a significant interaction between dyadic serostatus and relationship duration on adherence, such that individuals in long-term serodiscordant relationships reported better adherence than short-term serodiscordant relationships or seroconcordant partners in long-term relationships. Future research is needed to understand what relationship dynamics explain differences in adherence rates based on dyadic serostatus.

Couple-Level Dynamics and Multilevel Challenges Among Black Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Framework of Dyadic HIV Care

The primary romantic relationship may offer critical opportunities for improving HIV care among key populations affected by high rates of HIV infection and low rates of care engagement, such as black men who have sex with men. A conceptual framework is needed to identify dyadic processes involved in addressing challenges in retention in care and adherence to antiretroviral therapy. This study conducted dyadic and individual-level qualitative analyses of individual interviews with men living with HIV from 14 black gay couples (n = 28). Interviews explored each partner's perspectives on challenges to and supportive strategies for retention in care and medication adherence. Findings highlighted challenges at various levels of care engagement and patterns of dyadic interactions that impeded or facilitated HIV care. Couple-level processes (i.e., couple's resilience, interdependence) underlined a joint problem-solving approach toward addressing challenges in care engagement. Findings support a conceptual framework of dyadic HIV care that highlights the impacts of dyadic and individual factors on coordination of care and treatment to influence retention and adherence. The generalizability of study findings is limited by the small sample size. Implications for intervention design include leveraging drivers of partner support, including couples' resilience, in enhancing joint problem-solving in HIV care among black gay couples.

A Conceptual Model of Dyadic Coordination in HIV Care Engagement Among Couples of Black Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Qualitative Dyadic Analysis

Among Black men who have sex with men (MSM), HIV incidence is disproportionately high and HIV care engagement is disproportionately low. There may be important opportunities to leverage the primary relationship to improve engagement in HIV care and treatment among Black MSM couples. Using dyadic qualitative analysis of semi-structured, one-on-one interviews, we explored dyadic aspects of HIV care engagement among 14 Black MSM couples in which at least one partner was HIV-positive and identified as a Black cisgender man. Findings showed that men varied in how involved they were in their HIV-positive partner's care and treatment, and in how they reciprocated their partner's involvement. Patterns of dyadic HIV care engagement supported a conceptual model of dyadic coordination that describes Black MSM relationships in terms of two conceptual dimensions of dyadic HIV care engagement, and guides future intervention designs with Black MSM couples.