HIV Prevention During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Sexual Activity and PrEP Use Among Black Same-Gender-Loving Men and Black Cisgender Women

Abstract

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.

Findings on the Monkeypox Exposure Mitigation Strategies Employed by Men Who Have Sex with Men and Transgender Women in the United States

“…Results of this study can help inform the development and tailoring of monkeypox prevention strategies geared towards these populations. Similar to work conducted during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic (Corneli et al, 2022 ; Griffin et al, 2022 ; McKay et al, 2021 ; Starks et al, 2022 ; Stephenson et al, 2021 ; Walsh et al, 2021 ), our results demonstrate that MSM and transgender women employ a variety of exposure mitigation strategies currently endorsed by the CDC ( 2022e ). This includes limiting their exposure by avoiding crowded social venues where close, personal, skin-to-skin contact is likely to occur—such as a party, dance club, or sex club where minimal clothing may be worn.…”

Changes in HIV Prevention and Sexual Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Methods Study

“…Over the same period, 52% (182) reported having more or equal number of sex partners and 14% (50) reported no sex partners, compared with usual. In comparison, during the later period with fewer mitigations, 92% (328) participants reported using the same or more PrEP and only 6% (21) stopping PrEP, compared with usual; 78% (278) reported having more or equal number of sex partners and only 6% (22) reported no partners.…”

“…1,8 There has been some qualitative work in this area, which highlights different experiences in different populations and settings. 7,21,22 For instance, Zapata et al 22 documented logistical barriers and biased medical staff as impediments to young sexual minority men who tried to access PrEP using the pandemic. Corneli et al 21 found, similar to our results, that Black cis men and cis women reported maintaining PrEP as a habit or stopping PrEP when they had fewer or no partners because of the pandemic.…”