'Proyecto Orgullo', an HIV prevention, empowerment and community mobilisation intervention for gay men and transgender women in Callao/Lima, Peru

Peer Approaches to Improve HIV Care Cascade Outcomes: a Scoping Review Focused on Peer Behavioral Mechanisms

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

There are three main components of peer-based approaches regardless of type: education, social support, and social norms. The purpose of this scoping review was to examine evidence in the literature among peer-based interventions and programs of components and behavioral mechanisms utilized to improve HIV care cascade outcomes.

RECENT FINDINGS

Of 522 articles found, 40 studies were included for data abstraction. The study outcomes represented the entire HIV care cascade from HIV testing to viral suppression. Most were patient navigator models and 8 of the studies included all three components. Social support was the most prevalent component. Role modeling of behaviors was less commonly described. This review highlighted the peer behavioral mechanisms that operate in various types of peer approaches to improve HIV care and outcomes in numerous settings and among diverse populations. The peer-based approach is flexible and commonly used, particularly in resource-poor settings.

Association of Discrimination, Violence, and Resilience with Depressive Symptoms Among Transgender Women in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Transgender women experience violence and discrimination that lead to stress responses and contribute to poor mental health. In this analysis of baseline data from Transcendendo, a trans-specific open cohort in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, we hypothesized that the experience of discrimination and violence would be associated with depressive symptoms and that resilience could mitigate this association. Results showed that prior experiences with discrimination and sexual and physical violence were associated with depressive symptoms, while resilience was inversely associated with depressive symptoms. Resilience did not moderate nor mediate the strong effects of discrimination and violence on depressive symptoms in adjusted models.

HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B prevalence, related risk behaviours and correlates of condom use among transgender women in two cities in Sri Lanka: findings from respondent-driven sampling surveys

Background Biobehavioural data on transgender women (TGW) are limited globally.

METHODS

We used data collected as part of the 2017-18 National Integrated HIV Biobehavioural Survey, which included 254 TGW in Colombo and 252 in Jaffna, for structured questionnaire interviews and biological testing. We performed multivariable logistic regression analysis to explore factors associated with condom use.

RESULTS

We found low HIV prevalence in Colombo (0.6%) and no HIV infections in Jaffna. TGW in Colombo had higher positivity on the Treponema pallidum-particle agglutination test (2.5%) compared with TGW in Jaffna (0.4%). We found no hepatitis B infections. In both cities, <25% of TGW have comprehensive knowledge about HIV prevention. In Colombo 54.4%, but only 21.4% of TGW in Jaffna, have ever been tested for HIV. Drug-injecting behaviours are uncommon in both cities (prevalence <1%), whereas 7.4% reported sharing equipment for injecting feminising hormones in Colombo. Greater proportions of TGW in Colombo compared with Jaffna used condom at last sex (82.3% vs 37.7%). Multivariable analysis showed lower odds of condom use at last sex in TGW aged >30 years and those who did not test for HIV in the past 12 months in Colombo, and for TGW with higher income in Jaffna, TGW not visiting outdoor sites to find partners, and TGW who sold sex.

CONCLUSIONS

Current burden of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B among TGW in Sri Lanka is low. Although risk behavioural patterns vary between the cities, a substantial sexually transmitted infection vulnerability is a common denominator, calling for strengthening of the capacity to respond to specific TGW needs.

Let's Talk About Sex: The Impact of Partnership Contexts on Communication About HIV Serostatus and Condom Use Among Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) and Transgender Women (TW) in Lima, Peru

Sexual communication with partners informs risk assessment and sexual practices. We evaluated participant, partner, and network factors associated with communication about condom use and HIV serostatus and explored their relationships with condomless anal intercourse (CAI) among 446 men who have sex with men (MSM) and 122 transgender women (TW) in Lima, Peru. Generalized estimating equations assessed contextual influences on communication and practices with recent sexual partners. More frequent HIV communication was reported by MSM who: identified as heterosexual, compared to bisexual or gay; characterized partnerships as stable, compared to casual, anonymous, or commercial; or discussed HIV/STIs with close social contacts (p < 0.05). TW in concurrent partnerships discussed condom use more frequently than those in monogamous relationships (p < 0.05). Condom use discussions and alcohol use among MSM were associated with CAI (p < 0.05). Findings highlight complexity in sexual decision-making and call for further study of conversation content and practices to inform HIV prevention messaging.

TransPrEP: Results from the Pilot Study of a Social Network-Based Intervention to Support PrEP Adherence Among Transgender Women in Lima, Peru

We conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial of a social network-based intervention to promote PrEP adherence among transgender women (TW) in Lima, Peru. We enrolled 89 TW from six social networks and cluster-randomized them 1:1 to standard of care (n = 44) or the TransPrEP intervention (n = 45). Core workshops discussed strategies to support PrEP adherence and defined group adherence objectives. Maintenance workshops discussed participants' experiences taking PrEP and collective adherence goals. At 3-month follow-up, we evaluated 40 participants and obtained 29 hair samples for tenofovir level measurements. Though no significant differences were observed, 36.4% (4/11) of participants of TransPrEP participants and 10.0% (1/10) of control participants had tenofovir levels > 0.023 ng/mg, consistent with ≥ 4 doses per week. 81.8% (9/11) of intervention and 40.0% (4/10) of control participants had any detectable tenofovir in their hair. Pilot assessment of our network-based intervention suggested a trend towards improved PrEP adherence, measured objectively, for TW in Peru.

Community-Based Resistance Strategies among a Group of Trans Women in Lima, Peru during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study explores the community-based strategies that a group of trans women living in Lima, Peru, employed to resist the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their wellbeing. Data was collected through participant observation and focus group discussions during the implementation of a social aid campaign targeted to this population and analyzed through reflexive theoretical thematic analysis. Resistance strategies were understood as forms of social capital grounded in relations of support and connectedness. Results underscored the importance of social cohesion to ameliorate increasing levels of precarity, community leaders as key for linking trans women across different networks, and unified efforts of social groups who share values to influence institutional power. The analysis also captured barriers and challenges that could hinder the development and articulation of social capital. Fostering trust relations and community-organization should be fundamental components for advocacy programs that seek to support the trans women community.

A Multidimensional Model of Sexual Empowerment Among Young Black Men Who have Sex with Men: A Latent Profile Analysis

Sexual empowerment is a key strategy in HIV prevention intervention design, yet its measurement has been conceptualized as homogeneous. To date, no studies have examined whether young Black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) exhibit heterogeneity across sexual empowerment. Using baseline data from a randomized controlled trial (N = 275, HIV-negative YBMSM), we classified YBMSM into sexual empowerment profiles based on five indicators using a latent profile analysis and assessed the associations between the sexual empowerment profiles and stigma-related experiences using multinomial logistic regression. Three profiles were identified: psychologically empowered with safer sex intentions (profile 1); psychologically disempowered with safer sex intentions (profile 2); and psychologically disempowered without safer sex intentions (profile 3). YBMSM reporting fewer stigma-related experiences were more likely to be profile 1 than profile 2 and profile 3. To empower YBMSM, interventions based on sexual empowerment profile targeting the psychological/behavioral aspects of empowerment and addressing stigma are needed.

Adaptation and Pilot Evaluation of an Intervention Addressing the Sexual Health Needs of Gay Men Living with HIV Infection in Colombia

Interventions addressing the sexual health need of HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) in Latin America are scarce. We adapted and evaluated GPS, a group-based intervention led by peers, developed using the Information-Motivation-Behavioral (IMB) model and motivational interviewing (MI). We used McKleroy et al framework to culturally adapt GPS to MSM living with HIV infection in Colombia. Then, a one-armed pilot trial examined changes in depressive symptoms, loneliness, self-efficacy for engaging in sexual risk reduction behaviors, sexual sensation seeking and sexual compulsivity at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up. These results were complemented with semistructured interviews with participants 3 months after the intervention. GPS was identified to be culturally acceptable with few changes in materials and exercises. Facilitators showed high levels of adherence and fidelity to MI principles. Seven of 11 eligible participants finished the intervention; GPS positively influenced self-efficacy for condom negotiation, depressive symptoms, and condomless anal sex with partners of unknown HIV status. Exit interviews revealed that GPS was well-designed, relevant, facilitated discussion of sex in a nonjudgmental manner, and helped make positive changes in participants’ sexual lives. These results provided preliminary evidence of an intervention to address sexual and mental health of MSM living with HIV in Latin America.

Sexual Partnership-Level Correlates of Intimate Partner Violence Among Men Who Have Sex with Men and Transgender Women in Lima, Peru

To improve understanding of factors associated with intimate partner violence (IPV) and explore its role in sexually transmitted infection (STI) acquisition, we analyzed partnership-level correlates of IPV among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TW) in Peru. In a 2017 cross-sectional study of rectal STI screening and HIV prevention, MSM/TW completed a sociobehavioral survey addressing demographic characteristics, sexual risk behaviors, and substance use, and were tested for rectal gonorrhea and chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV. Generalized estimating equations estimated individual- and partner-level correlates of IPV. Of 576 participants (median age, 27 years), 7.9% (36/456) of MSM and 15.0% (18/120) of TW reported IPV with ≥ 1 of their last three partners. MSM/TW reporting IPV were more likely to meet criteria for an alcohol use disorder (74.1%) than participants reporting no IPV (56.7%; p < .01). Physical violence (4.5% MSM; 9.2% TW) was associated with stable partnerships (aPR 3.79, 95% CI 1.79-8.04), partner concurrency (4.42, 1.19-16.40), and participant alcohol (4.71, 1.82-12.17) or drug use (5.38, 2.22-13.02) prior to sex. Psychological violence (4.5% MSM; 5.0% TW) was associated with stable partnerships (2.84, 1.01-7.99). Sexual IPV was reported by 1.1% of MSM and 5.0% of TW. Physical, psychological, and sexual IPV were reported in sexual partnerships of Peruvian MSM and TW, particularly with stable partners and in conjunction with substance use.

Sex-on-premise venues, associated risk behaviors, and attitudes toward venue-based HIV testing among men who have sex with men in Lima, Perú

BACKGROUND

In Perú, HIV disproportionately affects men who have sex with men (MSM). Despite widespread access to treatment, the high rate of new HIV infections has remained unchanged over the last decade. Low knowledge of HIV status associated with late diagnosis is a key factor underlying the high HIV incidence observed in this setting, creating conditions for efficient onward transmission. Improving access to HIV testing and prevention services for those at highest risk is an important public health priority. Sex-on-premise venues (SOPVs) - saunas, sex clubs, pornographic movie theaters, hourly hotels, and bars/discos with areas where sex is permitted - may be opportune sites for outreach; however, further research on SOPVs and the populations who frequent them is needed to inform such efforts.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional online survey of adult MSM in Lima, Perú to evaluate patterns of SOPV attendance, associated sexual risk behaviors, and attitudes toward SOPV-based interventions. Participants were recruited through outreach to social media networks affiliated with local LGBTQ-aligned community groups. Our primary analytic objective was to estimate the association of HIV-related sexual risk behaviors and SOPV attendance. Additionally, we performed exploratory analyses to describe risk behavior stratified by SOPV category and to examine the relationship between SOPV attendance and the use of online platforms to meet sex partners.

RESULTS

Overall, 389 MSM completed the survey from November 2018 through May 2019, of whom 68% reported attending an SOPV in the last 3 months. SOPV attendance was associated with multiple sexual risk behaviors, including transactional sex, group sex, substance use around the time of sex, and higher number of partners. Over two thirds of SOPV attendees indicated they would accept HIV testing if offered at SOPVs.

CONCLUSIONS

SOPV attendance was common among MSM in Lima who participated in our survey, and SOPV attendees reported significantly greater engagement in sexual risk behaviors related to HIV transmission. Attitudes toward hypothetical SOPV-based interventions were generally favorable. These findings suggest that outreach at SOPVs may be an effective mechanism for reaching a particularly high-risk sub-population of MSM in Perú to deliver targeted HIV testing and prevention interventions.

Social Network Organization, Structure, and Patterns of Influence Within a Community of Transgender Women in Lima, Peru: Implications for Biomedical HIV Prevention

Understanding social network structures can contribute to the introduction of new HIV prevention strategies with socially marginalized populations like transgender women (TW). We conducted 20 semi-structured interviews and four focus groups (n = 32) with TW from selected social networks in Lima, Peru between May and July, 2015. Participants described layers of social influence from diverse actors in their social networks. The majority identified a close relative as their primary social support, with whom they confided secrets but avoided issues of transgender identity, sexuality, and sex work. Participants described close circles of TW friends with whom they shared information about gender identity, body modification, and sexual partners, but avoided issues like HIV. Community leadership included political leaders (who advocated for transgender rights) as well as social leaders (who introduced TW to hormone therapy, body modification, and commercial sex). Detailed analysis of TW social networks can contribute to implementation and acceptability of new HIV prevention technologies.

Strategies for Improving Mobile Technology-Based HIV Prevention Interventions With Latino Men Who Have Sex With Men and Latina Transgender Women

Mobile technology-based interventions show promise for conveying HIV prevention information to Latino men who have sex with men (LMSM) and Latina transgender women (LTGW); however, implementing such interventions can pose serious challenges. To understand how to adapt existing interventions for these populations, we conducted nine focus groups (N = 91 participants, 52 LMSM, 39 LTGW) in Los Angeles, California. We used a rapid assessment process to create narrative reports that we examined using thematic analysis to explore differences across sites and between LMSM and LTGW. Lessons learned: requiring smartphone use could diminish participation of poor participants; sending personalized messages on the same days and times can help participants anticipate receiving study information; working with community partners is essential for building trust; recognizing different language literacies and diverse countries of origin can improve the cultural competency of intervention materials. Addressing these challenges may enhance efforts to address the HIV prevention needs of these communities.

Experienced HIV-Related Stigma and Psychological Distress in Peruvian Sexual and Gender Minorities: A Longitudinal Study to Explore Mediating Roles of Internalized HIV-Related Stigma and Coping Styles

Experiencing HIV-related stigma has important impacts on the mental health of people living with HIV, which has implications for treatment adherence, disease progression, and health outcomes. The impacts of stigma are particularly important to consider among sexual and gender minorities, who often face a disproportionate burden of HIV. To address the implications of stigma in these key populations, we leveraged a longitudinal study conducted among Peruvian sexual and gender minorities to compare the relative effects of multiple mediators affecting the relationship between experienced HIV-related stigma and psychological distress: internalized HIV-related stigma, adaptive coping, and maladaptive coping. HIV-related stigma, coping, and distress were measured, respectively, at 24 weeks, 36 weeks, and 48 weeks post-diagnosis for 145 participants from the Sabes Study. HIV-related maladaptive coping largely mediated the relationship between experienced HIV-related stigma and distress. Our findings suggest interventions targeting maladaptive coping may alleviate the mental health consequences of experiencing HIV-related stigma.

"And Then Break the Cliché": Understanding and Addressing HIV Vulnerability Through Development of an HIV Prevention Telenovela with Men Who Have Sex with Men and Transwomen in Lima, Peru

HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to affect men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TW) in Peru at disproportionately high rates. The ineffectiveness of traditional prevention strategies may be due to the disconnect between health promotion messages and community-level understandings of sexual cultures. We conducted 15 workshops with MSM and TW to develop a community-based sexual health intervention. Intervention development consisted of focus groups and scenic improvisation to identify sexual scripts for an HIV prevention telenovela, or Spanish soap opera. Workshops were stratified by self-reported socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and gender identity: (1) low-income MSM (n = 9); (2) middle/high-income MSM (n = 6); and (3) TW (n = 8). Employing a conceptual model based on sexual scripts and critical consciousness theories, this paper reports on three themes identified during the telenovela-development process as participants sought to "rescript" social and sexual stereotypes associated with HIV-related vulnerability: (1) management of MSM and TW social identities at the intersection of socioeconomic status, sexuality, and gender performance; (2) social constructions of gender and/or sexual role and perceived and actual HIV/STI risk(s) within sexual partnership interactions; and (3) idealized and actual sexual scripts in the negotiation of safer sex practices between MSM/TW and their partners. These findings are key to reframing existing prevention strategies that fail to effectively engage poorly defined "high-risk populations." Leveraging community-based expertise, the results provide an alternative to the static transfer of information through expert-patient interactions in didactic sessions commonly used in HIV prevention interventions among MSM and TW.

Integration of a Technology-Based Mental Health Screening Program Into Routine Practices of Primary Health Care Services in Peru (The Allillanchu Project): Development and Implementation

BACKGROUND

Despite their high prevalence and significant burden, mental disorders such as depression remain largely underdiagnosed and undertreated.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the Allillanchu Project was to design, develop, and test an intervention to promote early detection, opportune referral, and access to treatment of patients with mental disorders attending public primary health care (PHC) services in Lima, Peru.

METHODS

The project had a multiphase design: formative study, development of intervention components, and implementation. The intervention combined three strategies: training of PHC providers (PHCPs), task shifting the detection and referral of mental disorders, and a mobile health (mHealth) component comprising a screening app followed by motivational and reminder short message service (SMS) to identify at-risk patients. The intervention was implemented by 22 PHCPs from five health centers, working in antenatal care, tuberculosis, chronic diseases, and HIV or AIDS services.

RESULTS

Over a period of 9 weeks, from September 2015 to November 2015, 733 patients were screened by the 22 PHCPs during routine consultations, and 762 screening were completed in total. The chronic diseases (49.9%, 380/762) and antenatal care services (36.7%, 380/762) had the higher number of screenings. Time constraints and workload were the main barriers to implementing the screening, whereas the use of technology, training, and supervision of the PHCPs by the research team were identified as facilitators. Of the 733 patients, 21.7% (159/733) screened positively and were advised to seek specialized care. Out of the 159 patients with a positive screening result, 127 had a follow-up interview, 72.4% (92/127) reported seeking specialized care, and 55.1% (70/127) stated seeing a specialist. Both patients and PHCPs recognized the utility of the screening and identified some key challenges to its wider implementation.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of a screening app supported by training and supervision is feasible and uncovers a high prevalence of unidentified psychological symptoms in primary care. To increase its sustainability and utility, this procedure can be incorporated into the routine practices of existing health care services, following tailoring to the resources and features of each service. The early detection of psychological symptoms by a PHCP within a regular consultation, followed by adequate advice and support, can lead to a significant percentage of patients accessing specialized care and reducing the treatment gap of mental disorders.

'In the North you can't be openly gay': Contextualising sexual practices among sexually and gender diverse persons in Northern Canada

Scant research has addressed health and well-being among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) persons in the Arctic. The Northwest Territories (NWT) has among Canada's highest rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). LGBTQ persons in NWT are at the nexus of LGBTQ and Arctic health disparities. Yet little is known of their sexual health needs. This qualitative study explored the sexual health needs of LGBTQ persons in the NWT. We conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 51 participants, including 16 LGBTQ youth aged 15-24, 21 LGBTQ adults aged 25 and above, and 14 key informants who worked with LGBTQ persons. Social-ecological approaches to understanding sexual health guided this study. Participants discussed how structural contexts such as heteronormativity in sexual health education and a lack of access to safer sex tools constrained their ability to practice safer sex. Social contexts of intersectional stigma resulted in shame, concealing identities, and fear of accessing safer sex materials. Myriad factors influenced partner communication about safer sex practices, including honesty, consent, and relationship power. Findings suggest the need for comprehensive sexuality education and interventions that address syndemics of substance use, stigma, and low self-esteem to advance sexual health among LGBTQ persons in Northern Canada.

Role of mHealth in overcoming the occurrence of post-stroke depression

Depression associated with stroke affects roughly one-third of stroke survivors. Post-stroke depression (PSD) is thought to adversely influence functional outcome by limiting participation in rehabilitation, decreasing physical, social, and cognitive function, and affecting neuroplasticity thereby placing stroke survivors at high risk for future vascular events. PSD has also been associated with higher mortality rates after stroke. In Peru, a country where there is no national stroke program and mental health disorders are largely underdiagnosed and untreated, people with PSD are likely to be further challenged by dependency and impoverished conditions that will limit their use of ambulatory services, leading to inadequate clinical follow-up. In this scenario, mobile health (mHealth) technology offers a promising approach to extend access to high-quality and culturally tailored evidence-based psychological care to address PSD given that cell phone use, Internet connectivity, and digital health technology have met a rapid growth in the last years and thus contribute to the attainment of broader Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The limited evidence of the effectiveness of mHealth for PSD calls for researchers to fill a knowledge gap where Peru poses as an ideal setting because rapid expansion of digital technology and current mental healthcare reform could be leveraged to enhance post-stroke outcomes. This article proposes the rationale for a suitable evidence-driven, mHealth-based, PSD self-management intervention called iMOODS-Investigating the role of mHealth in overcoming occurrence of depression after stroke-that could be tested among recent stroke patients with PSD in resource constrained settings.

Leveraging social capital: multilevel stigma, associated HIV vulnerabilities, and social resilience strategies among transgender women in Lima, Peru

Introduction: In Peru, transgender women (TW) experience unique vulnerabilities for HIV infection due to factors that limit access to, and quality of, HIV prevention, treatment and care services. Yet, despite recent advances in understanding factors associated with HIV vulnerability among TW globally, limited scholarship has examined how Peruvian TW cope with this reality and how existing community-level resilience strategies are enacted despite pervasive social and economic exclusion facing the community. Addressing this need, our study applies the understanding of social capital as a social determinant of health and examines its relationship to HIV vulnerabilities to TW in Peru.

Methods: Using qualitative methodology to provide an in-depth portrait, we assessed (1) intersections between social marginalization, social capital and HIV vulnerabilities; and (2) community-level resilience strategies employed by TW to buffer against social marginalization and to link to needed HIV-related services in Peru. Between January and February 2015, 48 TW participated (mean age = 29, range = 18–44) in this study that included focus group discussions and demographic surveys. Analyses were guided by an immersion crystallization approach and all coding was conducted using Dedoose Version 6.1.18.

Results: Themes associated with HIV vulnerability included experiences of multilevel stigma and limited occupational opportunities that placed TW at risk for, and limited their engagement with, existing HIV services. Emergent resiliency-based strategies included peer-to-peer and intergenerational knowledge sharing, supportive clinical services (e.g. group-based clinic attendance) and emotional support through social cohesion (i.e. feeling part of a community).

Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of TW communities as support structures that create and deploy social resiliency-based strategies aimed at deterring and mitigating the impact of social vulnerabilities to discrimination, marginalization and HIV risk for individual TW in Peru. Public health strategies seeking to provide HIV prevention, treatment and care for this population will benefit from recognizing existing social capital within TW communities and incorporating its strengths within HIV prevention interventions. At the intersection of HIV vulnerabilities and collective agency, dimensions of bridging and bonding social capital emerged as resiliency strategies used by TW to access needed healthcare services in Peru. Fostering TW solidarity and peer support are key components to ensure acceptability and sustainability of HIV prevention and promotion efforts.

The trouble with 'Categories': Rethinking men who have sex with men, transgender and their equivalents in HIV prevention and health promotion

This double Special Issue of Global Public Health presents a collection of articles that seek more adequately to represent sexual and gender diversities and to begin to rethink the relationship to HIV prevention and health promotion - in both the resource rich nations of the global North, as well as in the more resource constrained nations of the global South. Reckoning with the reality that today the global response to HIV has failed to respond to the needs of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, and transgender persons, we turn our attention to processes and practices of categorisation and classification, and the entanglement of the multiple social worlds that constitute our understanding of each of these categories and people within the categories. Jointly, these articles provide critical perspectives on how defining and redefining categories may impact the conceptual frameworks and empirical evidence that inform global understandings of HIV infection, those communities most vulnerable, and our collective response to the evolving HIV epidemic.