Evaluation of a community-informed multimedia intervention to increase PrEP awareness and intention among African American young adults.

Despite the benefits of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in preventing HIV and its potential for reducing racial/ethnic HIV inequities, PrEP remains underutilized among African Americans who may benefit from it. Factors of PrEP uptake include awareness and acceptability of this prevention strategy among this group, yet few community-informed interventions have been developed and evaluated to address these challenges. Thus, this study evaluates the effectiveness of a community-informed, six-month multimedia campaign (print, digital media, internet radio, social media) for African American young adults (age 18-29) in Louisville, Kentucky to increase PrEP awareness and PrEP use intentions. Pretest surveys, posttest surveys, and digital analytic metrics were used to determine campaign effectiveness. Logistic regressions indicate increased PrEP awareness over time (p ≤ 0.0001) and greater PrEP intention among participants reporting greater campaign affinity (p ≤ 0.05). Campaign digital analytic performance was similar to or exceeded that of industry competitors (e.g., healthcare organizations). Findings indicate that a community-informed multimedia campaign increased PrEP use intentions among those exhibiting greater campaign affinity (the extent to which participants report a favorable view of the campaign) and demonstrated similar or greater effectiveness in digital elements as industry competitors at a cost-effective price. Future studies should incorporate community-engaged approaches in developing health communication products for greater PrEP acceptability and efficiency.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT0355959.

Systematic Review of Neighborhood Factors Impacting HIV Care Continuum Participation in the United States.

Social determinants have been increasingly implicated in accelerating HIV vulnerability, particularly for disenfranchised communities. Among these determinants, neighborhood factors play an important role in undermining HIV prevention. However, there has been little research comprehensively examining the impact of neighborhood factors on HIV care continuum participation in the US. To address this, we conducted a systematic review (PROSPERO registration number CRD42022359787) to determine neighborhood factors most frequently associated with diminished HIV care continuum participation. Peer-reviewed studies were included if published between 2013 - 2022, centralized in the US, and analyzed a neighborhood factor with at least one aspect of the HIV care continuum. The review was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol. Study quality was guided by LEGEND (Let Evidence Guide Every New Decision) evaluation guidelines. Systematic review analysis was conducted using Covidence software. There were 3,192 studies identified for initial screening. Forty-four were included for review after eliminating duplicates, title/abstract screening, and eligibility assessment. Social and economic disenfranchisement of neighborhoods negatively impacts HIV care continuum participation among persons living with HIV. In particular, five key neighborhood factors (socioeconomic status, segregation, social disorder, stigma, and care access) were associated with challenged HIV care continuum participation. Race moderated relationships between neighborhood quality and HIV care continuum participation. Structural interventions addressing neighborhood social and economic challenges may have favorable downstream effects for improving HIV care continuum participation.

Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and PrEP intentions among Black American young adults at high-risk for HIV.

OBJECTIVES: Black Americans bear the greatest burden of HIV, accounting for 43% of new diagnoses. Yet Black Americans also evidence the lowest utilization rates of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), a highly effective biomedical strategy for preventing HIV infection. Predictors of PrEP acceptance vary; however, little is known about psychological distress, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, as a predictor. DESIGN: In this cross-sectional study, n = 195 Black Americans, evidencing behaviors found in the research literature to heighten risk for contracting HIV (e.g. sex work, injection drug use) ages 18-29, 55% cisgender women, 39.5% cisgender men, 3% transgender/non-binary, completed audio-computer-assisted self-interviews. RESULTS: Bivariate analyses indicated significant positive associations between PTSD symptoms and PrEP acceptance and self-confidence. In multinomial logistic regression analyses, after controlling for Perceived HIV Risk, participants had a higher likelihood of responding they 'probably would' take PrEP (as opposed to 'definitely would not' take PrEP) if they reported higher levels of PTSD symptoms. Post-hoc analyses revealed a curvilinear relationship between PTSD symptoms and PrEP acceptance with those reporting the highest level of PTSD in the sample having slightly lower PrEP acceptance than those reporting moderately high levels of PTSD. CONCLUSION: Findings are discussed in the context of the negative impacts of high levels of PTSD and potential positive adaptations subsequent to moderate levels of PTSD that could be relevant to advances in HIV prevention efforts.

Sociocultural and structural influences on HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Engagement and Uptake among African American Young adults.

BACKGROUND: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) demonstrates effectiveness in decreasing new cases of HIV. However, few African Americans use PrEP, despite being disproportionately impacted by HIV. Understanding the influence of sociocultural and structural factors on PrEP use among multiple priority groups of African Americans, including but not limited to men who have sex with men, may improve PrEP engagement and uptake. The social ecological model (SEM) as a framework guided the understanding of how these factors operate on multiple levels to influence PrEP use among this population. METHODS: This study derived data from the Afya PrEP study consisting of eleven focus groups (N = 63) with 18-29-year-old African American sexual and gender minority and heterosexual individuals at heightened behavioral vulnerability to HIV. We employed constructivist grounded theory processes to inductively analyze the data. A pooled kappa score of 0.90 indicated excellent inter-rater agreement. RESULTS: Factors impacting PrEP engagement among African American young adults included: (1) Community/social network influences; (2) medical mistrust; (3) stigma; (4) PrEP availability and accessibility, which had two sub-categories: (a) cost and (b) where to obtain PrEP; and (5) PrEP engagement strategies, which had two sub-categories: (a) current AIDS service organizations' PrEP engagement practices and (b) recommended future PrEP engagement strategies. Categories one through three represent sociocultural factors, and categories four and five represent structural factors that influence perceptions and attitudes of African American young adults regarding PrEP. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights sociocultural and structural factors that act as barriers and facilitators to PrEP engagement. The SEM guided the understanding of how these factors operated on multiple levels. One of the sociocultural factors, community/social network influences operated at the interpersonal level of the SEM; the other two, stigma and medical mistrust, operated at the community level. The structural factors (PrEP availability, accessibility, and engagement strategies) operated at the institutional/organizational level. Thus, multi-level interventions are warranted to improve PrEP engagement among various African American young adult priority groups.

The Perception of Religious Leaders on HIV and Their Role in HIV Prevention: A Case Study of African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) Communities in Windsor, Ontario.

This paper explores the perception of African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) religious leaders on HIV vulnerability and their role in HIV prevention among ACB communities in Windsor, Ontario. We conducted one semi-structured focus group discussion with nine Black religious leaders, most of whose congregants are members of the ACB community. Most religious leaders in the focus group had a negative perception of the transmission of HIV, but they acknowledged their own important role in HIV prevention strategies. This role is collaborative in nature, from the stage of designing HIV prevention strategies to implementing prevention messages. The religious leaders noted, however, that some challenges, such as church doctrine and congregational culture, are likely to impede their HIV prevention efforts.

A Systematic Review of Neighborhood-Level Influences on HIV Vulnerability.

A better understanding of the social-structural factors that influence HIV vulnerability is crucial to achieve the goal of ending the HIV epidemic by 2030. Given the role of neighborhoods in HIV outcomes, synthesis of findings from such research is key to inform efforts toward HIV eradication. We conducted a systematic review to examine the relationship between neighborhood-level factors (e.g., poverty) and HIV vulnerability (via sexual behaviors and substance use). We searched six electronic databases for studies published from January 1, 2007 through November 30, 2017 (PROSPERO CRD42018084384). We also mapped the studies' geographic distribution to determine whether they aligned with high HIV prevalence areas and/or the "Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for the United States". Fifty-five articles met inclusion criteria. Neighborhood disadvantage, whether measured objectively or subjectively, is one of the most robust correlates of HIV vulnerability. Tests of associations more consistently documented a relationship between neighborhood-level factors and drug use than sexual risk behaviors. There was limited geographic distribution of the studies, with a paucity of research in several counties and states where HIV incidence/prevalence is a concern. Neighborhood influences on HIV vulnerability are the consequence of centuries-old laws, policies and practices that maintain racialized inequities (e.g., racial residential segregation, inequitable urban housing policies). We will not eradicate HIV without multi-level, neighborhood-based approaches to undo these injustices. Our findings inform future research, interventions and policies.

A Qualitative Exploration of Various Stigmas Impacting HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Uptake Among African American Young Adults.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has promise for reducing racial/ethnic HIV disparities; yet, acceptance among African Americans remains low. PrEP-related stigmas may impact uptake, but this is understudied. This study examines mechanisms by which stigma impacts PrEP acceptance among various priority African American populations. Focus group data from 63 African American young adults (aged 18-29 years) in Louisville, Kentucky, explore how various stigmas impact attitudes toward PrEP. Data were analyzed using grounded theory analytic techniques. PrEP stigma, HIV stigma, sexual behavior stigma, and homophobia/transphobia individually reduce PrEP uptake. These stigmas also interact synergistically to undermine PrEP acceptance. Key challenges resulting from various stigmas and their interactions include medical hesitancy, lack of perceived susceptibility based on gender and sexuality, the role of gender norms in HIV prevention, and deprioritizing HIV prevention due to social rejection. Interventions to increase awareness, destigmatize PrEP, remediate social marginalization related to identity, HIV status, and gendered perceptions of sexual risk, as well as more focus on diverse priority groups, are needed to present PrEP as a viable HIV prevention option for African American communities. More research is needed to optimize strategies that address stigma and increase acceptance of novel HIV prevention technologies.

Examining HIV-related stigma among African, Caribbean, and Black church congregants from the Black PRAISE study in Ontario, Canada.

HIV-related stigma impedes adoption and implementation of effective HIV prevention and treatment strategies. It may also exacerbate racial/ethnic HIV disparities. Given high levels of religious observance within African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) communities and the social capital that faith-based organizations hold, these entities may be promising venues for stigma-remediation and effective partners in community-based, HIV-focused programing. However, more research is needed to understand HIV-related stigma in these institutions. This study examines HIV-related stigma among six ACB churches in Ontario, Canada. Surveys were distributed to ACB attendees (N = 316) and linear regressions determined relationships between HIV-related stigma and stigma subdomains with demographics, greater disagreement with same-sex relationships, HIV knowledge, and religiosity. Greater disagreement with same-sex relationships was the only variable associated with the HIV-related stigma scale and all of its subscales. Age, gender, HIV knowledge, religiosity, contact with persons living with HIV, and length of time in Canada were associated with varying aspects of HIV-related stigma. Findings can inform the development of HIV-related stigma interventions and the characteristics of individuals these efforts should target to achieve maximum impact.

Examining Factors that Impact Intentions to Use Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Among African-American Young Adults.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a biomedical HIV prevention strategy with potential to reduce racial HIV disparities. However, African-Americans have not received the benefits of PrEP to the same extent as other groups. The theory of planned behavior (TPB) was employed to explain intentions to use PrEP among a sample of African-Americans (age 18-29) in Louisville, Kentucky. Data were derived from the Afya Project, a study examining PrEP-focused HIV prevention for African-American young adults. The sample was developed through respondent-driven sampling and participants (N = 181) completed audio computer-assisted self-interviews assessing demographics and TPB variables. Analysis of variance was used to examine relationships between demographics and PrEP intentions. Linear regressions determined associations between control beliefs, attitudes, norms, and PrEP use intentions. Confidence in using PrEP (p ≤ .0001), perceived HIV risk (p ≤ 0.05), perceived likelihood of acquiring HIV (p ≤ 0.05), and positive norms around PrEP (p ≤ 0.05) were significantly associated with PrEP use intentions. Findings can inform interventions to advance PrEP as a HIV prevention option for African-American populations at higher risk of contracting HIV.

Black PRAISE: engaging Black congregations to strengthen critical awareness of HIV affecting Black Canadian communities.

In Canada, HIV disproportionately affects Black communities. Though Black faith leaders play an influential role engaging Black communities around social care and social justice, their response to HIV has been somewhat muted. Black PRAISE is a novel intervention for Black churches to strengthen congregants' critical awareness of HIV affecting Black communities. A multi-stakeholder team developed and tested the intervention in 2016 - 17 among six churches in the province of Ontario, where more than half of Black Canadians reside, using a community-based participatory approach. Specifically, the intervention aimed to strengthen how congregants understand HIV among Black communities and reduce their level of stigma toward people living with HIV. We addressed critical awareness among the participating congregations through (i) disseminating a booklet with validated information that promoted critical health literacy related to HIV; (ii) enabling pastors to deliver a sermon on love, compassion and social justice; and (iii) developing and screening a short film that featured Black Canadians discussing their experiences of HIV-related stigma. We assessed changes in knowledge and stigma by surveying congregants (N = 173) at baseline and two follow-ups using validated instruments and other measures. Through Black PRAISE, congregants significantly increased their HIV-related knowledge; moreover, exposure to all the intervention components was associated with a significantly reduced level of stigma. A likely strategic outcome of Black PRAISE is that churches are empowered to help strengthen Black people's community-based response to HIV and join efforts to eliminate the structural conditions that increase Black people's vulnerability to HIV.

"I Shall Live and Not Die": Using Monologues Based on the Experiences of Older African Americans Living With HIV to Address HIV-Related Stigma Among African Americans in Louisville, Kentucky.

Remediating racial/ethnic HIV inequities necessitates addressing HIV-related stigma. Arts- and media-based approaches demonstrate potential for effective knowledge translation and HIV-related stigma reduction. This study employs 5 monologues portraying lived experiences of older African Americans living with HIV to do this. Monologues were developed on the basis of qualitative research, actors performed them for live and online audiences, and surveys were distributed to gauge their potential for raising awareness about HIV-related stressors, reducing HIV-related stigma, and entertainment value. Monologues may also foster HIV testing. More scholarship should integrate arts-based knowledge translation with HIV education. Future efforts should focus on scaling this approach.

Can a Multilevel STI/HIV Prevention Strategy for High Risk African American Adolescents Improve Life Satisfaction?

Addressing adolescent sexual risk behaviors in the STI/HIV prevention literature is well documented; however, impacts from interventions on life satisfaction are relatively unexplored. This study examined data (n = 1658) from a randomized, multi-site, multi-level STI/HIV prevention intervention trial (Project iMPAACS) to determine whether increased protective and reduced sexual risk-taking behaviors associated with STI/HIV would also improve self-reported life satisfaction. Taking into account the nested study design and controlling for confounders, a mixed model ANOVA was performed where Total mean life satisfaction scores were analyzed at baseline and 3, 6, 12, and 18 months post-recruitment. Significance levels of 0.05 were used to determine significance and η 2 was used to assess effect size. We hypothesized that as intervention participants engaged in the intentional activity associated with increasing protective behaviors and reducing sexual risk-taking behaviors associated with STI/HIV, life satisfaction reports would also improve over the course of the intervention. A significant main effect for sex was detected (F = 5.19, p = .02, η 2 = .03), along with three interactions: between experimental condition and media intervention (F = 7.96, p = .005, η 2= .04); experimental condition, sex, and media intervention (F = 6.51, p = .01, η 2 = .04); and experimental condition, sex, assessment point, and media intervention (F = 3.23, p = .01, η 2 = .02). With the exception of the control condition, female life satisfaction reports improved from baseline assessments to 18-months post-recruitment, whereas male reports decreased. Project iMPPACS was not designed with the intent on improving participants' life satisfaction. However, study results suggest incorporating strategies to address subjective well-being into future adolescent STI/HIV risk-reduction interventions is beneficial for females and additional research is necessary for males.

Examining Social-Ecological Factors in Developing the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness Syringe Exchange Program.

Amid an opioid epidemic and increasing HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) concerns, the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness developed syringe exchange programming (SEP) to reduce HIV and HCV transmission, increase linkage to health care, and provide health education to clients in Louisville, Kentucky. We describe organizational, community, and policy factors contributing to SEP development. Approximately 8000 clients received SEP services from June 2015 to December 2016. Coalition building, timely advocacy, and media engagement are integral to successful SEP development and uptake.

Sexual Networking and Partner Characteristics Among Single, African, Caribbean, and Black Youth in Windsor, Ontario.

The disproportionate HIV burden shared by African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) populations in Canada has not been explained by unique sexual behaviors in this population. This study investigates partner selection and sexual networking as potential contributors to HIV vulnerability. The study examines variations in the characteristics of sexual partners and sexual networking across groups based on differences in ethno-religious identity, gender, and length of Canadian residency among single, 16- to 27-year old, heterosexual-identified, ACB individuals living in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Respondent-driven sampling maximized the representativeness of the sample of 250 (45 % male; 55 % female) youth with penile-vaginal intercourse experience who completed surveys. Logistic regression and analysis of variance compared groups with respect to number of lifetime partners, concurrency of sexual relationships, non-relational and age disparate partnering, and intra-ethnic sexual networking. For vulnerability associated with number of partners, concurrency and non-relational sex, women, newcomers to Canada, and African-Muslim participants were at lower vulnerability for HIV infection than their comparator groups. For vulnerability associated with sexual networking within a group with higher HIV prevalence, women and newcomers to Canada were at higher vulnerability to HIV infection than their comparator groups. There were insufficient data on age disparate partnering to support analysis. These results point to the importance of considering characteristics of partners and sexual networking both in further research and in developing policies and programs to curtail the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

HIV-related stigma among African, Caribbean, and Black youth in Windsor, Ontario.

HIV-related stigma has been shown to undermine prevention, care, treatment, and the well-being of people living with HIV. A disproportion burden of HIV infection, as well as elevated levels of HIV-related stigma, is evidenced in sub-Saharan African (SSA) and African-diasporic populations. This study explores factors that influence HIV-related stigma among 16- to 25-year-old youth residing in a Canadian city who identify as African, Caribbean, or Black. Stigma, as rooted in cultural norms and beliefs and related social institutions, combined with insights from research on stigma in SSA and African-diasporic populations, guided the development of a path analytic structural equation model predicting levels of HIV-related stigmatizing attitudes. The model was tested using survey responses of 510 youth to estimate the direct and indirect influences of ethno-religious identity, religious service attendance, time in Canada, HIV/AIDS knowledge, HIV-testing history, sexual health service contact, and gender on HIV-related stigma. Statistically significant negative associations were found between levels of stigma and knowledge and HIV-testing history. Ethno-religious identity and gender had both direct and indirect effects on stigma. African-Muslim participants had higher levels of stigma, lower knowledge, and were less likely to have been tested for HIV infection than other ethno-religious groups. Male participants had higher levels of stigma and lower knowledge than women. Time in Canada had only indirect effects on stigma, with participants in Canada for longer periods having higher knowledge and less likely to have been tested than more recent arrivals. While the strength of the effect of knowledge on stigmatizing attitudes in this research is consistent with other research on stigma and evaluations of stigma-reduction programs, the path analytic results provide additional information about how knowledge and HIV-testing function as mediators of non-modifiable characteristics such as gender, ethnicity, religion, and time in a country.

Perceived Difficulty of Performing Selected HIV/AIDS Preventive Behaviors and Life Satisfaction: Is there a Relationship for African American Adolescents?

Research on the relationship between adolescent health risk behaviors, sexual risk behaviors in particular, and perceived life satisfaction is emerging. Some researchers suggest that life satisfaction has been a neglected component of adolescent health research. African American adolescents aged 13-18 (n = 1,658) from four matched, mid-sized cities in the northeastern and southeastern USA, completed a self-report questionnaire via Audio Computer Assisted Self-Interview. Analyses were conducted to examine relationships between perceived difficulty in performing HIV/AIDS preventive behavior and perceived life satisfaction, while controlling for socioeconomic status. Results suggest that perceived life satisfaction is related to perceived difficulty in performing HIV/AIDS preventive behaviors, for both males and females, with variability in the magnitude of associations by gender. Further research is necessary to identify the particular characteristics of youth and specific aspects of adolescent life satisfaction associated with perceived difficulty in performing HIV/AIDS preventive behavior to develop gender-appropriate and culturally-sensitive quality of life/health promotion programs.

Neighborhood Condition and Geographic Locale in Assessing HIV/STI Risk Among African American Adolescents.

Although region and neighborhood condition's effect on HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) risk has been studied separately, there is little research examining their interplay. African American adolescents (n = 1,602) from four matched cities in the Northeastern and Southeastern US completed Audio Computer Assisted Self-Interviews and submitted biospecimen samples to detect Sexually Transmitted Infections (chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomonas). Logistic and negative binomial regressions determined HIV/STI risk differences by region, neighborhood stress, and stress-region dyads. Northeastern participants demonstrated lower HIV/STI risk while participants from higher stress neighborhoods exhibited greater risk. Relationships between neighborhood condition and ever having anal sex (p < 0.01), anal condom use (p < 0.05), and number of anal partners (p < 0.05) were significant in the Northeast only. Participants in unstressed Northeastern neighborhoods were less likely to have vaginal sex than those in comparable Southeastern neighborhoods (p < 0.05). Participants in unfavorable Northeastern neighborhoods had fewer anal partners than participants in comparable Southeastern neighborhoods (p < 0.01). In concert, neighborhood and region differentially affect HIV/STI risk.

HIV-related stigma among African-American youth in the Northeast and Southeast US.

HIV-related stigma inhibits optimal HIV prevention and treatment among African-Americans. Regional differences in HIV/AIDS prevalence may be related to stigma among young African-Americans. Baseline data (N = 1,606) from an HIV prevention intervention were used to investigate regional differences in HIV-related stigma and knowledge among African-American adolescents in four midsized cities in the Northeastern and Southeastern US. Analyses indicated greater HIV-related stigma among adolescents from the Southeast relative to adolescents from the Northeast (F = 22.23; p < 0.0001). Linear regression indicated a negative relationship between HIV stigma and HIV knowledge (b = -0.65; p < 0.0001). Addressing HIV/AIDS in high prevalence locales should include efforts to reduce HIV-related stigma.