Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2023 Oct;20(5):453-460.
doi: 10.1071/SH23072.

Perspectives of a peer-driven approach to improve pre-exposure prophylaxis and HIV prevention among Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino men who have sex with men

Jun Tao  1 , Collette Sosnowy  2 , Trisha Arnold  3 , Jhanavi Kapadia  4 , Hannah Parent  5 , Brooke G Rogers  2 , Alexi Almonte  5 , Philip A Chan  6
Affiliations

Perspectives of a peer-driven approach to improve pre-exposure prophylaxis and HIV prevention among Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino men who have sex with men

Jun Tao et al. Sex Health. 2023 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Black/African American (B/AA) and Hispanic/Latino (H/L) men who have sex with men (MSM) are significantly less likely than white MSM to initiate pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). A peer-driven intervention (PDI) may be an effective approach to addressing this disparity. In this study, we explored community member perspectives of a PDI to promote PrEP uptake among B/AA and H/L MSM.

Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with B/AA and H/L HIV-negative MSM between August 2018 and October 2019 in Rhode Island, USA. Participants reported their perspectives and recommendations for a PDI. Data from participant responses were thematically analysed.

Results: Of 15 MSM, the median age was 25years (interquartile range: 22, 33). The majority identified as B/AA (53.3%), H/L (66.7%), and having a college education or above (53.3%). Most participants viewed a PDI positively and were willing to learn and promote PrEP among their peers. Participants identified and supported several potential intervention components, such as education about the benefit of PrEP, emphasising prevention-effective dosing, and clarifying no prevention effect towards other sexually transmitted infections. They preferred in-person meetings to electronic communication. Preferred characteristics of peer educators included compassion, good communication skills, and enthusiasm about PrEP.

Conclusions: This in-depth qualitative interview suggested that a PDI approach is promising in promoting PrEP uptake, as it could deliver culturally appropriate education and encourage PrEP uptake via peer influence among B/AA and H/L MSM.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: US Public Health Service. HIV Surveillance Report, 2020. In:2022.
    1. Grey JA, Bernstein KT, Sullivan PS, et al. Estimating the Population Sizes of Men Who Have Sex With Men in US States and Counties Using Data From the American Community Survey. JMIR public health and surveillance. 2016;2(1):e14. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Jenness SM, Kobrak P, Wendel T, Neaigus A, Murrill CS, Hagan H. Patterns of exchange sex and HIV infection in high-risk heterosexual men and women. Journal of urban health : bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine. 2011;88(2):329–341. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Siegler AJ, Mouhanna F, Giler RM, et al. The prevalence of pre-exposure prophylaxis use and the pre-exposure prophylaxis-to-need ratio in the fourth quarter of 2017, United States. Annals of epidemiology. 2018. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Kirby T, Thornber-Dunwell M. Uptake of PrEP for HIV slow among MSM. Lancet (London, England). 2014;383(9915):399–400. - PubMed