A qualitative study evaluating COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among individuals living in Mississippi

Background

COVID-19 vaccination rates are lower in the Southern United States compared to other regions. This study investigated COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy in Mississippi (MS) to identify preferences that may boost MS vaccination strategies in areas with poor vaccine uptake.

Methods

Qualitative interviews were completed between April 2021 and January 2022 with staff and patients at four Federally Qualified Health Centers in MS. Interviews included the following COVID-19 vaccine topics: willingness to be vaccinated, barriers and facilitators, and methods for providing vaccine information. Data were organized with NVivo software and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

Fifteen clinic staff and 49 patients were interviewed. Barriers to vaccine uptake included a lack of knowledge and understanding of how the vaccine worked, distrust of the government, fear of side effects, and social pressure to stay unvaccinated. Vaccination facilitators included its widespread accessibility, a desire to protect themselves and vulnerable populations, and a previous unpleasant COVID-19 illness experience. Participants stated that vaccine information should be provided by health organizations and familiar, respected community members.

Conclusions

Results identified barriers to vaccination, such as mistrust of the government and healthcare system, and facilitators like vaccination advocacy originating from congregations and religious leaders. These findings can inform future COVID-19 vaccination efforts to increase overall immunization rates in MS. Future research in other locations could further assess commonalities and differences in the barriers and facilitators to vaccination.

Social, Structural, Behavioral, and Clinical Barriers Influencing Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Use Among Young Black Men Who Have Sex with Men in the South: A Qualitative Update to a 2016 Study

Antiretroviral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective in preventing HIV. Despite its promise, PrEP use is low, especially among young Black men who have sex with men (YBMSM). The prevalence of HIV in Mississippi (MS) is among the highest in the United States, with the bulk of new infections occurring amongst YBMSM living in Jackson, MS. We recruited 20 PrEP-eligible YBMSM and 10 clinic staff from MS health clinics between October 2021 and April 2022. Data were collected remotely using in-depth interviews and a brief survey, which lasted approximately 45-60 min. Interview content included PrEP knowledge/experiences, HIV risk perception, and PrEP use barriers and facilitators. Qualitative data were coded then organized using NVivo. Using thematic analysis methodology, data were assessed for current barriers to PrEP use. An array of barriers were identified by participants. Barriers included structural factors (cost of PrEP, lack of discreet clinics, time commitment, competing interests); social factors (unaware of HIV risk, stigma and homophobia, fear that partners would find out about PrEP use, not knowing anyone on PrEP); behavioral factors (sexual risk factors, denial, less priority for prevention vs treatment); and clinical factors (misunderstood side effects, fear PrEP won't work). Significant barriers to PrEP use among YBMSM stem from structural, social, behavioral, and clinical factors. These results will inform intervention efforts tailored to mitigate barriers and improve PrEP uptake among YBMSM in the southern United States.

Mapping Implementation Science with Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (MIS-ERIC): Strategies to Improve PrEP Use among Black Cisgender Women Living in Mississippi

BACKGROUND

Black women are disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic. Strategies to increase Black women's use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) are needed.

METHODS

Interviews were conducted in Mississippi (MS) with Black, cisgender women at risk for HIV, and community healthcare clinic (CHC) staff who work directly with this population. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to identify barriers and select appropriate implementation strategies to increase PrEP care.

RESULTS

Twenty Black women and twelve CHC staff were interviewed. PrEP use barriers resulted from low HIV risk awareness, lack of PrEP knowledge, and structural and stigma-related barriers. Methods for PrEP education and motivation included normalizing PrEP in public communications, providing education at places where women congregate, and tailoring PrEP content with Black women as educators. The Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) project provides a way for implementation scientists to select strategies that are consistent within research and practice across studies. Strategies from the ERIC project were selected to address implementation barriers.

CONCLUSIONS

Tailoring PrEP implementation protocols to increase Black women's access, engagement, and adherence to PrEP is needed. This is one of the first implementation studies to incorporate these four implementation concepts into a single study: (1) implementation outcomes, (2) i-PARIHS, (3) ERIC's strategy list, and (4) operationalizing the strategies using the Proctor et al., guidelines. Results provide an in-depth comprehensive list of implementation strategies to increase PrEP uptake for Black women in MS.

A Comparison of COVID-19 Vaccine and PrEP Hesitancy Among Individuals Living in Mississippi: A Qualitative Study

Mississippi (MS) trails behind other states in both pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and COVID-19 vaccine uptake. This study investigated similarities in willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and use PrEP. Semi-structured interviews were conducted between April 2021 and January 2022 with 15 clinical staff and 49 PrEP-eligible patients living in MS. Reflexive thematic analysis was conducted. Overall, 51% of patients were on PrEP, and 67% received the COVID-19 vaccine. Among PrEP users, 64% had received the vaccine. Participants reported similar hesitations (efficacy, side effects, and no perceived risk) and reasons for use (health autonomy and protecting themselves and others) regarding PrEP and the COVID-19 vaccine. Taking PrEP did not increase the likelihood of getting the COVID-19 vaccine, thus engaging in one prevention behavior does not lead to engaging in other prevention behaviors. However, results indicated commonalities in hesitancy and motivators to utilize both preventive measures. Future prevention and implementation efforts can be informed by these commonalities.

Considerations for PrEP Implementation at Federally Qualified Health Centers in Mississippi: Perspectives From Staff and Patients

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake remains low in the southeastern United States ("the South"), likely owing to overlapping structural barriers, including the lack of nearby PrEP providers. Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) are potential sites through which to expand PrEP availability in the South, and telemedicine is promising for these services. This study investigated considerations for PrEP implementation at FQHCs and the use of telemedicine through qualitative interviews with 19 FQHC staff and 17 PrEP-eligible patients in Mississippi. Results indicated that existing infrastructure and policies at FQHCs can support PrEP implementation and that additional needed resources include more education for providers and strategies to advertise PrEP services. Findings suggest that using telemedicine for PrEP can address some regional implementation barriers (e.g., transportation problems and confidentiality concerns) but may present new ones (e.g., concerns about patients performing home HIV/STI testing procedures). Results can inform future PrEP implementation efforts in the South.

Effects of a Parent-Focused HIV Prevention Intervention for Young Men Who have Sex with Men: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial

Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) face the highest risk of HIV infection among adolescents, yet effective sexual health interventions for this population are limited. Parents and Adolescents Talking about Healthy Sexuality (PATHS) is an online intervention for parents designed to improve communication about HIV and increase behaviors supportive of YMSM sexual health. We conducted an RCT of PATHS with sixty-one parent-son dyads recruited online (sons were cisgender, gay or bisexual, ages 14-22). Assessments were completed at baseline, immediate post-intervention, and over the next 3 months. Per parent and son report, in the 3 months following the intervention, parents assigned to PATHS engaged in more HIV discussion, condom instruction, and facilitation of HIV testing. Parents also reported significant pre- to immediate-post intervention changes in attitudes, skills, and behavioral intentions relevant to engaging with their sons about sexual health. Parents are an untapped but promising resource in preventing HIV among YMSM.This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT04018573).

Development of An Acceptance Based PrEP Intervention (ACTPrEP) to Engage Young Black MSM in the South Utilizing the Adaptome Model of Intervention Adaptation

Objectives

HIV disproportionately affects young Black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) in the Southern United States. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an efficacious, biomedical approach to prevent HIV. While Mississippi (MS) has among the highest rates of new HIV infections, it also ranks among the top three states for unmet PrEP need. Thus, increasing engagement in PrEP care for YBMSM in MS is imperative. A potential method to improve psychological flexibility and promote PrEP uptake, explored by this study, is the incorporation of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) into PrEP interventions. ACT is an evidence-based intervention used to treat a wide range of mental and physical illnesses.

Methods

Twenty PrEP-eligible YBMSM and ten clinic staff working with YBMSM in MS were surveyed and interviewed between October 2021 and April 2022. The brief survey covered PrEP structural barriers, PrEP stigma, and psychological flexibility. Interview topics included internal experiences related to PrEP, existing health behaviors, PrEP related personal values, and relevant constructs from the Adaptome Model of Intervention Adaptation (service setting, target audience, mode of delivery, and cultural adaptations). Qualitative data were coded based on ACT and the Adaptome model, organized using NVivo, then thematically analyzed.

Results

Patients identified side effects, costs, and taking a daily prescription as top barriers to taking PrEP. Staff reported the top barrier to PrEP for clients was concern others would believe they were living with HIV. Levels of psychological flexibility and inflexibility varied widely among participants. The resulting thematic categories derived from the interviews included 1) thoughts, emotions, associations, memories, and sensations (TEAMS) related to PrEP and HIV, 2) general health behaviors (existing coping techniques, views on medication, HIV/PrEP approach and avoidance), 3) values related to PrEP use (relationship values, health values, intimacy values, longevity values), and 4) Adaptome Model adaptations. These results informed the development of a new intervention, ACTPrEP.

Conclusions

Interview data organized by the Adaptome Model of Intervention Adaptation determined appropriate ACT-informed intervention components, content, intervention adaptations, and implementation strategies. Interventions informed by ACT that help YBMSM endure short-term discomfort related to PrEP by relating it to their values and long-term health goals are promising for increasing individuals' willingness to initiate and maintain PrEP care.

Acceptability and Comfort Regarding Remotely Delivered PrEP Services in Mississippi

Despite the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Mississippi, access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is mostly limited to urban areas. Remote PrEP care via telemedicine, HIV self-testing, and prescription mail delivery can improve care in underserved communities. This mixed methods study assessed the acceptability and feasibility of using remote PrEP care, compared to alternatives. This consisted of (1) a cross-sectional survey and (2) interviews. PrEP-eligible adults were recruited from community-based organizations across Mississippi while accessing HIV testing between December 2019 and May 2022. Those surveyed (n = 63) indicated the greatest comfort in receiving PrEP via mail delivery (m = 5.14) and telemedicine (m = 4.89) and least comfort at gyms (m = 3.92). Comfort significantly differed between mail delivery and gyms (F = 2.90; P < .01). Those interviewed (n = 26) expressed relatively high comfort with remote PrEP care citing enhanced accessibility, privacy, simplicity, and quality. Remote PrEP services were acceptable and feasible among our sample, thus, should be expanded in Mississippi to address unmet needs.

Family-Related Factors and HIV-Related Outcomes Among Black Young Men Who Have Sex with Men in Mississippi

Given their disproportionate HIV incidence, there is a critical need to identify factors related to HIV risk among Black young men who have sex with men (YMSM) in the southeastern United States. This study investigated the association of family factors and HIV-related outcomes among Black YMSM in Mississippi ages 14-20 (n = 72). Multivariable regression models evaluated associations of family factors and outcomes. Greater parent/child communication about sex was associated with fewer lifetime male sex partners and lower odds of lifetime anal sex. Greater parental monitoring was associated with greater likelihood of future condom use. Sexual orientation disclosure was associated with more lifetime male sex partners. Parental monitoring and parent/child communication about sex were protective, suggesting that family-based interventions are promising for HIV prevention among Black YMSM in Mississippi. Results also indicated that YMSM who are "out" to family are important to reach, and families could be useful in encouraging healthy behaviors.

Experiences of Violence and Mental Health Outcomes among Colombian Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) and Transgender Women

Colombia endured 70 years of internal conflict, but despite a peace agreement, violence continues to be significant in the post-conflict era. Violence degrades the health and well-being of affected populations and it engenders psychological distress. Little is known about the impact of violence on the mental health of sexual and gender minority populations in Colombia. This study aimed to examine the frequency and sources of violence among cisgender men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women and their association with depressive symptoms and substance use. We administered a survey to 942 MSM and 58 transgender women recruited using respondent-driven sampling. We estimated the relationship between mental health indicators and experiences of violence using stepwise logistic and linear regressions, controlling for income, education, age, race, and mistreatment for being effeminate when younger. Respondent-driven sampling adjusted prevalence of any type of violence was 60.9% for the total sample, 59.8% for MSM, and 75.1% for transgender women. Experiences of violence were significantly related to depressive symptoms, binge drinking and drug use for the MSM sample. Violence perpetrated by family members or acquaintances was associated with greater depressive symptoms, and violence perpetrated by partners and strangers was associated with increased binge drinking and drug use. These results provide significant evidence of the negative association of experiences of violence and the mental health of sexual and gender minority people, a vulnerable population in Colombia. This study addresses issues of diversity regarding sexual orientation and gender identity in a Latin American middle-income country.

Sexual Minority Status, Bullying Exposure, Emotion Regulation Difficulties, and Delinquency Among Court-Involved Adolescent Girls

Sexual minority adolescent girls are overrepresented in the justice system. This study used the minority stress model and psychological mediation framework to investigate a pathway for this disparity among court-involved girls ages 14-18 (N = 226; mean age: 15.58; 48% sexual minority). The hypotheses were that sexual minority status would be associated with delinquency, bullying exposure would be associated with delinquency indirectly via emotion regulation difficulties, and the relationship between bullying exposure and emotion regulation difficulties would be stronger for sexual minority girls. Bullying exposure and emotion regulation difficulties were not related. Sexual minority status was related to delinquency, and emotion regulation difficulties mediated this relationship. The findings suggest interventions to build emotion regulation skills may reduce delinquency for sexual minority girls.

Content analysis of psychological research with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people of color in the United States: 1969-2018

This article updates previous content analyses that identified a relative paucity of U.S.-based psychological research on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people of color by extending the period covered to 2018. In addition to documenting how many such studies occurred and when, it considers the research questions asked, funding sources, impact, and journal outlets. This richer description of this research area allowed us to describe historically not only when LGBT people of color in the United States were studied but why they were studied, which journals published this work, and which published studies were most influential. We found that the literature starts in 1988 for LGB people of color and in 2009 for transgender people of color and that a significant shift occurred in 2009, with the majority of the articles being published in the last 10 years. Findings suggest that U.S. federal funding and support for LGBT research as well as divisions of the American Psychological Association focused on minoritized identities and their journals played a role in the recent increase. Half of the studies investigated psychological symptoms, and more than a third of studied experiences and psychological processes related to holding multiple minority statuses, many of which focused on potentially deleterious aspects of these identities. These findings indicate that this literature has a significant focus on pathology. Underrepresented groups included cisgender and transgender women; transgender men; older individuals; Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders; American Indians and Alaska Natives; and multiracial individuals. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Anti-LGBT Victimization, Fear of Violence at School, and Suicide Risk Among Adolescents

We investigated whether strengths of the relationships between anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) victimization, fear of violence at school, and suicide risk differ by sexual orientation among a predominantly ethnic minority sample of adolescents. Using the 2012 District of Columbia Youth Risk Behavior Survey high school data set, we performed a 4-stage, stepwise logistic regression for suicide attempts, suicidal ideation, and suicide planning. First, we tested the independent variables, sexual orientation and anti-LGBT victimization. Second, we added an anti-LGBT victimization by sexual orientation interaction term. Third, we tested the independent variable, fear of violence at school, in an additive model. Fourth, we added a fear of violence at school by sexual orientation interaction term. In Model 1, sexual orientation and anti-LGBT victimization were both significantly associated with each suicide risk behavior. In Model 2, the anti-LGBT victimization by sexual orientation interaction term was not significant for any of the dependent variables. In Model 3, fear of violence at school was significantly associated with each suicide risk behavior. In Model 4, the fear of violence at school by sexual orientation interaction term was not significant for suicide attempts or suicidal ideation but was significant for suicide planning in the direction opposite to our hypotheses. Anti-LGBT victimization, sexual orientation, and fear of violence at school were associated with suicidal ideation, suicide planning, and suicide attempts. The strength of the association between fear of violence at school and suicide planning was weaker for sexual minority adolescents than for heterosexual adolescents.