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Sucaldito AD, Tanner AE, Mann-Jackson L, Alonzo J, Garcia M, Chaffin JW, Faller R, McGuire T, Jibriel M, Mertus S, Kline DM, Russell L, Stafford J, Aviles LR, Weil PH, Wilkin AM, Rhodes SD. Exploring Individual and Contextual Factors Associated With Sexual Risk and Substance Use Among Underserved GBQMSM and Transgender and Nonbinary Persons in South Central Appalachia. AIDS Educ Prev 2023; 35:495-506. [PMID: 38096454 PMCID: PMC11075819 DOI: 10.1521/aeap.2023.35.6.495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Gay, bisexual, queer, and other men who have sex with men (GBQMSM) and transgender and nonbinary persons are at elevated risk for HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and hepatitis C (HCV); in Appalachia, these communities experience more disease burden. However, little is known about the factors influencing risk. Sixteen semistructured in-depth interviews were conducted examining factors influencing prevention and care. Data were analyzed using constant comparison methodology. Fifteen themes emerged within four domains: social environment (e.g., microaggressions across gender, sexual orientation, and racial identities), substance use (e.g., high prevalence, use as coping mechanism), sexual health (e.g., misinformation and denial of risk for HIV and STIs), and access to health care (e.g., cost and transportation barriers, lack of local respectful care). Findings highlighted salient barriers and assets influencing prevention and care and suggest that multilevel interventions are needed to improve access to and use of HIV, STI, and HCV prevention and care services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana D Sucaldito
- Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Amanda E Tanner
- Department of Public Health Education, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina
| | - Lilli Mann-Jackson
- Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Jorge Alonzo
- Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Manuel Garcia
- Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - John W Chaffin
- Western North Carolina AIDS Project, Asheville, North Carolina
| | - Rachel Faller
- Department of Public Health Education, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina
| | - Tucker McGuire
- Department of Public Health Education, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina
| | - Mohammed Jibriel
- Department of Public Health Education, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina
| | - Sulianie Mertus
- Department of Public Health Education, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina
| | - David M Kline
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Laurie Russell
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Jeanette Stafford
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Lucero Refugio Aviles
- Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Peggy H Weil
- Western North Carolina AIDS Project, Asheville, North Carolina
| | - Aimee M Wilkin
- Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Scott D Rhodes
- Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
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