Reducing HIV Risk among Hispanic/Latino Men Who Have Sex with Men: Qualitative Analysis of Behavior Change Intentions by Participants in a Small-group Intervention

Abstract

Objective The southeastern United States has the fastest-growing Hispanic/Latino population in the country and carries a disproportionate HIV burden. Among Hispanics/Latinos, men, and men who have sex with men (MSM) in particular, are at elevated risk of HIV infection; however, very few efficacious behavioral HIV prevention interventions are available for use with this vulnerable population. To address this shortage of prevention resources, our community-based participatory research (CBPR) partnership developed and is currently evaluating the efficacy of the HOLA en Grupos intervention to increase condom use and HIV testing among Hispanic/Latino MSM. Methods We recruited 304 Hispanic/Latino MSM who were randomized to receive the small group HOLA en Grupos intervention that was implemented during four 4-hour long sessions over four consecutive Sundays, or a 4-session small group general health education comparison intervention. At the end of the fourth session of the HOLA en Grupos intervention, the intervention facilitators asked participants to write down the sexual health-related behaviors they intended to change as a result of their participation. Results Qualitative analysis of the participants’ responses identified six types of intended behavior changes: increasing and maintaining condom use; identifying strategies to support correct and consistent condom use; increasing communication and negotiation with sexual partners about condom use; getting tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections; applying other sexual health promotion strategies; and sharing newly learned sexual health information with their peers. Conclusion Most risk-reduction intentions aligned with the intervention’s key messages of using condoms consistently and getting tested for HIV. However, participants’ stated intentions may have also depended on which behavior changes they perceived as most salient after participating in the intervention. Participants’ intentions to share information with their peers may result in elements of the intervention content reaching others within their social networks, and potentially contributing to a broader community-level impact.

De NovoDiscovery of High Affinity Peptide Binders for the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein

“…The peptides reported here are potential starting points for the development of affinity-based diagnostic tools. [32][33][34] High-affinity reagents without direct competition activity for native receptors could be used for virus-directed delivery of antiviral payloads, or for the development of proteasome or lysosome targeting chimeras (PROTACs 35 and LYTACs 36 ). Adapting peptide 1 to a chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay or a similar assay could improve its sensitivity for detection of SARS-CoV-2.…”

Barriers to HIV Testing Within a Sample of Spanish-speaking Latinx Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men: Implications for HIV Prevention and Care

“…Between 2010–2016, new HIV diagnoses among Latinx GBMSM increased 30%, while this number decreased among most other demographic subgroups. Latinx GBMSM are infected with HIV at a rate 1.5 times greater than White GBMSM (CDC, 2018), highlighting the health disparities faced by ethnic and sexual minorities, particularly Latinx persons (Alonzo et al, 2016). If current diagnosis rates persist, one in four Latinx GBMSM may be diagnosed with HIV during his lifetime (Hess, Hu, Lansky, Mermin, & Hall, 2016).…”

A Systematic Review of Behavioral Interventions to Reduce Condomless Sex and Increase HIV Testing for Latino MSM

“…The first is Hola en Grupos , a small-group intervention in North Carolina aimed at increasing condom use and HIV testing behavior. The intervention is based on social cognitive theory and the theory of empowerment and consists of four group sessions delivered in Spanish [72, 73]. The second, Conectando Latinos en Pareja , is an adaptation of a four-session intervention based on social cognitive theory, originally designed for Black MSM and their same-sex partners ( Connect ‘n Unite) [74].…”