A State of the Science on HIV Prevention Over 40 Years Among Black and Hispanic/Latinx Communities

Intersectional Microaggressions and Implications for Health Inequities and HIV Among Latino/x Sexual Minority Males in Puerto Rico

Latino/x sexual minority males (SMM) continue to be disproportionately impacted by health inequities. This study aims to understand the lived experience of Puerto Rican (PR) SMM related to how intersectional microaggressions influence health-related risk and protective factors. Young adult (ages 21-30) PR SMM from San Juan, Puerto Rico, completed a bilingual in-depth individual interview (14 in Spanish and 1 in English). A thematic analysis based on the original language of the interviews was conducted using NVivo. Six prominent themes were identified through the data analysis: (1) religious microaggressions, being gay is bad because God doesn't like it; (2) gender microaggressions, gay is not good because it's not for men; (3) sexuality microaggressions, this one is a homosexual, coming out as a sexual minority; (4) trans microaggressions, drag queens create an illusion; (5) internalized microaggressions, battling with internalized homophobia; and (6) mitigating microaggressions, establishing a supportive community. Findings suggest that multiple forms of microaggressions based on the intersectionality of sexuality and gender manifest from straight as well as gay communities. PR SMM demonstrated their resiliency by assessing interactions with others to mitigate risks and enhance supportive networks.

Racial differences in testing for infectious diseases: An analysis of jail intake data

HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing for all people in jail is recommended by the CDC. In the community, there are barriers to HIV and HCV testing for minoritized people. We examined the relationship between race and infectious diseases (HIV, HCV, syphilis) testing in one Massachusetts jail, Middlesex House of Corrections (MHOC). This is a retrospective analysis of people incarcerated at MHOC who opted-in to infectious diseases testing between 2016-2020. Variables of interest were race/ethnicity, self-identified history of psychiatric illness, and ever having experienced restrictive housing. Twenty-three percent (1,688/8,467) of people who were incarcerated requested testing at intake. Of those, only 38% received testing. Black non-Hispanic (25%) and Hispanic people (30%) were more likely to request testing than white people (19%). Hispanic people (16%, AOR 1.69(1.24-2.29) were more likely to receive a test result compared to their white non-Hispanic (8%, AOR 1.54(1.10-2.15)) counterparts. Black non-Hispanic and Hispanic people were more likely to opt-in to and complete infectious disease testing than white people. These findings could be related to racial disparities in access to care in the community. Additionally, just over one-third of people who requested testing received it, underscoring that there is room for improvement in ensuring testing is completed. We hope our collaborative efforts with jail professionals can encourage other cross-disciplinary investigations.

HIV Syndemic Factor Associations Among Adolescent Gay and Bisexual Men in the Youth Risk Behavior Survey 2015-2019: A Secondary Data Analysis

ABSTRACT

This analysis of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey examined HIV syndemic factor associations (substance use, violence, mental health, and HIV risk behaviors) among adolescent gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men-a population with the highest prevalence of undiagnosed HIV infections. The representative sample ( n = 644) exhibited low condom use (52%) and HIV testing (21%). Adjusted multivariate logistic regression models showed that Blacks were less likely to report HIV testing (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.01-0.44], p < .01), whereas Hispanics were more likely to report four or more lifetime sexual partners (aOR = 3.75, 95% CI [1.49-9.44], p < .01), compared with Whites. A syndemic of substance use and intimate partner violence (sexual, sexual dating, and/or physical dating violence) was associated with early intercourse, multiple sexual partners, and drugs/alcohol before intercourse. Multiple syndemic factor exposures were associated with additive risk, suggesting multilevel approaches for HIV prevention.

A Longitudinal Study on the Influence of Sibling Support and HIV Testing Among Black Youth

BACKGROUND

Healthy familial relationships have been noted as protective against HIV infection among the Black youth. Previous studies have indicated that sibling relationships are important over the life course and may have a significant influence on health behaviors and health promotion. However, the specific interaction between sibling relationships, HIV prevention, and HIV testing is underexplored. This longitudinal study aims to examine the role of sibling relationships, healthcare providers, and other contextual factors on HIV testing.

METHODS

This study was conducted via the secondary analysis of data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health evaluating the health of adolescents. The analysis included Black youth from Wave 1 and 3 (N = 509) with a mean age of 16 years. A multinomial analysis evaluated the association of sibling relationships on HIV testing.

RESULTS

In Wave 1, youth who reported having love for their sibling were 1.90 (p < .001) times more likely to test for HIV infection than those who reported no love for their sibling. In Wave 1 and 3, the youth who reported no sibling support was 89% (p < .001) less likely to get tested for HIV more than once.

CONCLUSION

This study's findings show that sibling relationships have a significant positive influence on HIV testing among Black youth, and they are a protective factor against HIV transmission. These findings are essential in structuring HIV testing programs and interventions tailored to Black youth.

Discrimination, resilience, and HIV testing frequency among black women seeking services from STD clinics

RATIONALE

In the United States, Black women are disproportionately affected by HIV, accounting for most new HIV infections diagnosed among women. Socio-structural barriers to HIV testing include stigma and discrimination but may be mitigated by resilience.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to examine the effect of discrimination and resilience on HIV testing behaviors among Black women.

METHODS

Between 2016 and 2018, we conducted The ESSENCE Project, a retrospective cohort study on the role of physiological and environmental factors on the association between sexual assault and HIV risk among Black women in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Black women aged 18-44 were recruited from public health STD clinics and completed an audio-computer-assisted self-interview survey. Hierarchical multiple negative binomial regression models were used to examine the associations of everyday discrimination (subtle and overt) and resilience on HIV testing frequency; resilience and its subscales (relational maintenance, personal fortitude, positive coping, independence and insight) were also examined as moderators.

RESULTS

Among 236 Black women reporting HIV testing history, the median number of lifetime HIV tests was 4 (IQR = 2, 6). Mean everyday discrimination was 2.3 (SD = 1.2). Mean resilience was 5.3 (SD = 0.8). Everyday discrimination and its subscales (overt and subtle) were negatively associated with lifetime HIV testing frequency, while overall resilience was not associated with lifetime HIV testing frequency. Accounting for demographics, overall resilience moderated the association of subtle discrimination and lifetime HIV testing frequency. For the resilience subscales, more specifically: (1) associations of subtle discrimination and HIV testing frequency were significant at the lowest relational maintenance and lowest positive coping resilience; and (2) the association of subtle discrimination and HIV testing frequency was significant at the highest resilience for all four subscales.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight the need for provider- and community-level interventions addressing the deleterious effects of everyday discrimination and more specifically subtle everyday discrimination to encourage HIV testing.

Latent profiles of stigma and HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis among Black sexual minority men: an exploratory study

Black sexual minority men (BSMM) are a priority population for HIV prevention efforts, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) promotion. Intersectional stigma can be associated with deterrence from PrEP utilization among BSMM; this stigma has a novel context in the COVID-19 pandemic. To examine this, we investigated latent profiles of racial, sexuality-based, and related stigmas among HIV-negative BSMM in the COVID-19 pandemic and tested their association with PrEP use. We analyzed cross-sectional data from a pilot sample of HIV-negative BSMM (n = 151) collected between July 2nd and September 3rd, 2020 in the United States, primarily located on the east coast. We conducted latent profile analysis using internalized racism and homophobia, anticipated racism and homophobia, HIV stigma, healthcare stigma, and PrEP stigma. We then tested associations between latent profiles and both PrEP use (binary) and PrEP acceptability (ordinal) using modified Poisson regression and cumulative log models, respectively. We identified three latent profiles, characterized as ‘Low Internalized Stigma, High Anticipated Stigma’ (reference profile), ‘High Internalized Stigma, Low Anticipated Stigma,’ and ‘High Internalized and Anticipated Stigma.’ The ‘High Internalized and Anticipated Stigma’ profile was associated with PrEP use (aPR 0.37, 95% CI 0.17, 0.82) and acceptability (aPR 0.32, 95% CI 0.18, 0.57) nearly three times as low as the comparing profile after adjustment for confounders. The ‘High Internalized Stigma, Low Anticipated Stigma’ was also associated with PrEP acceptability nearly three times as low as the reference (aPR 0.38, 95% CI 0.22, 0.68). We identified latent profiles characterized by internalized and anticipated stigmas among BSMM during the COVID-19 pandemic and found that the profile with the highest levels of both internalized and anticipated stigma was associated with the lowest PrEP use and acceptability. Internalized stigma may be a particularly relevant intervention target in efforts to promote PrEP uptake among BSMM.

"Family before Anyone Else": A Qualitative Study on Family, Marginalization, and HIV among Hispanic or Latino/a/x Mexican Sexual Minority Males

This study explored the influence family relationships have on HIV-related factors among Hispanic or Latino/a/x Mexican sexual minority cisgender males in San Antonio, TX, US. A total of 15 young adults (7 people living with HIV; PLWH) ages 21-30 completed a semi-structured interview. Data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic analysis. The following themes emerged: (1) family support; (2) mother-son relationships; (3) father-son relationships; (4) sibling support; (5) family marginalization of sexual minorities; and (6) internalized homophobia. People who reported being HIV negative were more likely to have a prominent mother-son relationship, strong sense of family, supportive siblings, and family acceptance as a sexual minority. PLWH were more likely to report a weak sense of family, being raised in a maternal-led household, and less likely to have a relationship with their father and siblings. Marginalization among participants regardless of HIV status included exposure to religious rhetoric stigmatizing sexual minorities and fathers' reinforcing Mexican traditional gender norms. In addition to encountering homophobia, PLWH were further marginalized by family members due to their HIV status. The findings suggest a need for greater attention to examining the impact of familial support of Hispanic or Latino/a/x Mexican sexual minority cisgender males as young adults with or at risk of HIV.