Research is limited on the effect of racism and social determinants of health on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use. This study used the PrEP-to-Need Ratio (PNR), which measures PrEP prescriptions divided by HIV diagnoses in the county, to evaluate sufficient PrEP use. AIDSVu datasets were compared to county-level social determinants of health. Standardized regression coefficients (β) were compared to identify strongest associations with PNR. Overall, factors including percent African American and percent uninsured had negative correlations with PNR, whereas median household income and severe housing cost burden had positive associations. Stratifying for population size, percent African American, percent uninsured, and severe housing cost burden were significant for low population areas, whereas median household income, percent in poverty, percent uninsured, and percent African American were significant for large populations. To reduce PrEP disparities, public health must develop strategies to reach those most in need, especially historically disadvantaged communities.
HIV-outcome inequities remain prevalent in the U.S. Medical providers (MPs) are gatekeepers of PrEP, and understanding the dynamics of PrEP assessments is of major interest for public health. We analyzed data from Together 5000, an internet-based U.S. national cohort of sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals aged 16-49 years and at risk for HIV. Among those eligible for PrEP uptake (n = 6264), we modeled predictors of discussing PrEP with an MP. A third (31%) of participants had spoken to a MP about PrEP. Among those who spoke to a MP, 45% suggested they would initiate PrEP; this outcome was more common among participants older than 24. With a persistent stagnant uptake nationwide, new opportunities to influence PrEP uptake must be explored. An attractive less targeted space is the medical office, specifically ways to support an initial and continued discussion about PrEP between MPs and their patients.
Black populations in the U.S. South are disproportionally affected by HIV and COVID-19 due to longstanding inequalities. We conducted 20 in-depth interviews-12 with Black same-gender-loving men and 8 with Black cisgender women-to explore the impact of the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic on sexual activities and PrEP use. Almost all participants reduced the frequency of sex and number of partners. Women described little interest in sex, whereas men began to connect with some sexual partners after stay-at-home orders were lifted. Both populations were concerned about contracting COVID-19 through sexual partners, and men described selecting partners based on perceived COVID-19 risk. Participants valued PrEP and could access it, although several men who were not having sex stopped taking it. Risk of acquiring HIV during this time was likely limited. Future qualitative research is needed to understand how sexual behaviors and PrEP use changed as the pandemic continued.
Drug use and HIV are key issues for public health interventions in the Philippines. We examined associations of problematic drug use among 320 Filipinx transgender women (trans-WSM) and cisgender men who have sex with men (cis-MSM). The prevalence of exhibited problematic drug use in this sample was 29.38%. Greater odds of problematic drug use were observed among Filipinx participants who recently engaged in sex work (adjusted OR [aOR] = 2.79, 95% CI [1.08, 7.18]), reported having HIV positive and unknown status vs. negative status (aOR = 3.61, 95% CI [1.39, 9.39], and aOR = 13.99, 95% CI [2.04, 29.69], respectively), exhibited low HIV knowledge (aOR = 4.15, 95% CI [1.82, 9.44]), and displayed hazardous drinking (aOR = 2.77, 95% CI [1.21, 6.33]). Given its correlates of HIV-related indicators, integration of HIV and harm reduction services as a public health intervention could potentially decrease problematic drug use.
Familism may play an important role in HIV risk behaviors among men who have sex with men (MSM) living in a collectivist culture. This study examined a hypothesized path from familism, stressful life events (i.e., adverse childhood experiences, intimate partner violence, and sexuality-related discriminatory experiences), and coping strategies to condomless anal sex (CAS) among Taiwanese MSM. Participants were 1,000 MSM (mean age = 28.5 years) recruited through five community-based organizations. Structural equation modeling using bootstrapping with 3,000 iterations evaluated the mediating effects of 14 coping strategies. We found a pathway from familism to CAS through stressful life events and substance use coping. The protective effects of familism on stressful life events and CAS suggest that integrating components of family support and family connection into HIV prevention and education programs may increase the effectiveness of these programs in reducing HIV risk behaviors and dysfunctional coping strategies among MSM in Taiwan.