Adapting Provider Training and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Advertising to Increase Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Awareness and Uptake Among Black Cisgender Women.

Black cisgender women (hereafter referred to as "women") have disproportionately high rates of HIV infection yet low rates of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) utilization. Barriers to PrEP uptake exist at the system, provider, and individual/client level. To learn how existing training and advertising can be adapted to address race- and sex-based gaps within PrEP service delivery, we conducted focus groups with providers and Black women. Participants were recruited at three health care organizations in the Midwest and South, screened for eligibility, and consented verbally. Focus groups occurred from August 2022 to February 2023. Women were asked about their knowledge and thoughts on PrEP. Providers were asked about factors influencing their decision-making about PrEP. A codebook was developed based on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Transcripts were coded using the Stanford Lightning Report Method. We completed four focus groups with 10 providers and 9 focus groups with 25 women. Three major themes emerged: (1) low comfort level and limited cultural sensitivity/competency among providers discussing HIV risk and PrEP with Black women, (2) women's concerns about PrEP's side effects and safety during pregnancy, and (3) lack of Black women representation in PrEP advertisement/educational materials. In addition, women in the South reported general medical mistrust and specific misconceptions about PrEP. PrEP trainings for providers need detailed information about the safety of PrEP for women and should include role-playing to enhance cultural competency. Likewise, PrEP advertisements/materials should incorporate information regarding side effects and images/experiences of Black women to increase PrEP awareness and uptake among this population. Clinical Trial Registration Number: NCT05626452.

POWER Up-Improving pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake among Black cisgender women in the Southern United States: Protocol for a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial (SW-CRT).

BACKGROUND: HIV disproportionately affects Black/African American cisgender women (hereafter women) in the United States. Despite its proven effectiveness, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention remains vastly under-prescribed to women based on their need. Increasing PrEP uptake and persistence among women is crucial to reducing HIV transmission; however, there have been few studies designed specifically for women. This article describes the study protocol used to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of implementation strategies to improve PrEP uptake and persistence among Black women in the Midwest and South. METHODS: PrEP Optimization among Women to Enhance Retention and Uptake (POWER Up) is an evidence-based, woman-focused set of five implementation science strategies that addresses barriers of PrEP utilization at the provider, patient, and clinic levels. POWER Up includes 1) routine PrEP education for patients, 2) standardized provider training, 3) electronic medical record (EMR) optimization, 4) PrEP navigation, and 5) PrEP clinical champions. These strategies will be adapted to specific clinics for implementation, tested via a stepped-wedge trial, and, if effective, packaged for further dissemination. DISCUSSION: We will utilize a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial (SW-CRT) to measure change in PrEP utilization across diverse geographic areas. Preparation for adapting and implementing the bundle of strategies is needed to determine how to tailor them to specific clinics. Implementation challenges will include adapting strategies with the available resources at each site, maintaining stakeholder involvement and staff buy-in, adjusting the study protocol and planned procedures as needed, and ensuring minimal crossover. Additionally, strengths and limitations of each strategy must be examined before, during, and after the adaptation and implementation processes. Finally, the implementation outcomes of the strategies must be evaluated to determine the real-world success of the strategies. This study is an important step toward addressing the inequity in PrEP service delivery and increasing PrEP utilization among Black women in the U.S.

A Latent Class Analysis of Chronic Health Conditions Among HIV-Positive Transgender Women of Color.

Research on the health of transgender people has focused on the risk for and health consequences of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections with little known about the prevalence of a broader range of medical conditions experienced by transgender people. This study used latent class (LC) analysis to examine a range of chronic medical conditions among 223 HIV-positive transgender women of color receiving primary care and psychosocial services in Chicago. The best-fitting model had 2 classes: low and moderate/high multimorbidity with 26% of participants classified in the moderate/high multimorbidity LC. Age group (i.e., under 35 vs 35 and older; AOR 13.8, p < 0.001), ever having AIDS (AOR 4.0, p < 0.05) and psychological distress (AOR 5.1, p < 0.05) were associated with increased probability of moderate/high multimorbidity class membership. The results suggest focusing on HIV-related care or hormonal treatment and potential cardiovascular issues could result in sub-optimal treatment for a population dis-engaged from primary care but which has a broad spectrum of largely untreated medical conditions.

RESUMEN: La investigación sobre la salud de las personas transgénero se ha centrado en el riesgo y las consecuencias del VIH y otras infecciones de transmisión sexual, y se sabe poco acerca de la prevalencia de una gama más amplia de condiciones médicas experimentadas por las personas transgénero. Este estudio utilizó un análisis de clase latente (LC) para examinar una gama de condiciones médicas crónicas entre 223 mujeres transgénero VIH positivas que reciben atención primaria y servicios psicosociales en Chicago. El modelo que mejor se ajustó tuvo 2 clases: multimorbilidad baja y moderada/alta, con 26% de los participantes clasificados en la LC de multimorbilidad moderada/alta. Grupo de edad (es decir, menores de 35 contra 35 y más; AOR = 13.8, p < 0.001), con SIDA (AOR = 4.0, p < 0.05) y angustia psicológica (AOR = 5.1, p < 0.05) fueron asociado con una mayor probabilidad de membresía de clase de multimorbilidad moderada/alta. Los resultados sugieren que centrarse en la atención relacionada con el VIH o en el tratamiento hormonal y los posibles problemas cardiovasculares podrían resultar en un tratamiento subóptimo para una población que participa muy poco en la atención primaria, pero que tiene un amplio espectro de condiciones médicas en gran parte no tratadas.

Patterns of Exposure to Socio-structural Stressors and HIV Care Engagement Among Transgender Women of Color.

Transgender women are disproportionately affected by HIV and experiences of social adversity that may interfere with engagement in care and viral suppression. We used latent class analysis to examine patterns of social adversity and their impact on HIV care continuum outcomes in an urban sample of transgender women of color. Participants (n = 224) were median age 29 and 86% non-Hispanic Black. Lack of resources, unemployment, and housing instability were reported by over 50%, and 41% reported history of incarceration. Latent class analysis identified 2 distinct classes representing higher and lower levels of social adversity. In latent class regression, membership in the higher social adversity class was associated with statistically significantly lower odds of viral suppression and HIV care engagement in univariate analysis; when adjusted for age, race, and recruitment site the association remained statistically significant for viral suppression (aOR 0.38, 95% CI 0.18-0.79; chi-square = 6.681, d.f. = 1, p = 0.010), though not for HIV care engagement. Our findings highlight the impact of socio-structural barriers on engagement in the HIV care continuum among transgender women.

RESUMEN: Las mujeres transgénero son desproporcionadamente afectadas por el VIH y las experiencias de adversidad social que pueden interferir con la participación en la atención medica y la supresión viral. Utilizamos un análisis de clase latente para examinar los patrones de adversidad social y su impacto en los resultados continuos de la atención medica del VIH en una muestra urbana de mujeres transgénero de color. Los participantes (n = 224) tenían una mediana de edad de 29 años y 86% negros no hispanos. La falta de recursos, el desempleo y la inestabilidad de la vivienda fueron reportados en más del 50%, y el 41% reportó antecedentes de encarcelamiento. El análisis de clase latente identificó 2 clases distintas que representan niveles más altos y más bajos de adversidad social. En la regresión de clase latente, la pertenencia a la clase de mayor adversidad social se asoció con probabilidades estadísticamente significante más bajas de supresión viral y participación en la atención medica del VIH en el análisis univariante; cuando se ajustó por edad, raza y sitio de reclutamiento, la asociación siguió siendo estadísticamente significativa para la supresión viral (aOR 0.38, IC 95% 0.18­0.79; chi-cuadrado = 6.681, df = 1, p = 0.010), aunque no para la participación en la atención medica del VIH. Nuestros hallazgos destacan el impacto de las barreras socioestructurales en la participación en el continuo de atención medica del VIH entre las mujeres transgénero.

The Transgender Women of Color Initiative: Implementing and Evaluating Innovative Interventions to Enhance Engagement and Retention in HIV Care.

To improve health outcomes among transgender women of color living with HIV, the Health Resources and Services Administration's Special Programs of National Significance program funded the Enhancing Engagement and Retention in Quality HIV Care for Transgender Women of Color Initiative in 2012. Nine demonstration projects in four US urban areas implemented innovative, theory-based interventions specifically targeting transgender women of color in their jurisdictions. An evaluation and technical assistance center was funded to evaluate the outcomes of the access to care interventions, and these findings will yield best practices and lessons learned to improve the care and treatment of transgender women of color living with HIV infection.