Observational “go‐alongs” of follow‐up HIV care visits of two virally suppressed Black sexual minority men

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek T. Dangerfield ◽  
Allison J. Ober ◽  
Janeane N. Anderson ◽  
Pamina Gorbach ◽  
Ricky N. Bluthenthal
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Minority Men

scholarly journals Study protocol: a pilot randomised waitlist-controlled trial of a dyadic mobile health intervention for black sexual-minority male couples with HIV in the USA

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. e055448
Author(s):  
Hyunjin Cindy Kim ◽  
Lance M Pollack ◽  
Parya Saberi ◽  
Torsten B Neilands ◽  
Emily A Arnold ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
Male Couples ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Study Staff ◽  
Hiv Care Engagement ◽  
Minority Men ◽  
Primary Relationship ◽  
Racial Ethnic

IntroductionHIV care engagement is lower among black sexual-minority men relative to other racial/ethnic groups of sexual-minority men. Being in a primary relationship is generally associated with more successful HIV care engagement across various populations. However, among black sexual-minority men, the association between primary relationship status and HIV-related outcomes is inconsistent across the HIV care continuum. Given the ubiquity of mobile technology access and use among racial/ethnic minority communities, leveraging mobile technology for HIV care engagement appears a promising intervention strategy. This paper outlines the protocol of the LetSync study, a pilot randomised controlled trial of a mobile health app intervention developed using the Framework of Dyadic HIV Care Engagement to improve care-engagement outcomes among black sexual-minority male couples living with HIV.Methods and analysisEighty black sexual-minority men in couples (n=160) will be enrolled to pilot test the LetSync app. At least one member of each dyad must be both HIV-positive and self-identify as black/African-American. Couples will be randomised to either a waitlist-control arm or an intervention that uses relationship-based approach to improve HIV care engagement. We will assess feasibility and acceptability of trial procedures and intervention protocols based on predefined metrics of feasibility and acceptability. Execution of the study will yield the opportunity to conduct analyses to test the measurement and analysis protocol on antiretroviral therapy adherence by comparing the intervention and waitlist-control arms on self-reported and biological (hair sample) measures of adherence.Ethics and disseminationStudy staff will obtain electronic consent from all participants. This study has been approved by the University of California (UCSF) Institutional Review Board. Study staff will work with the Community Advisory Board at the UCSF Center for AIDS Prevention Studies Board to disseminate results to participants and the community via open discussions, presentations, journal publications and/or social media.Trial registration numberNCT04951544.

Feasibility of a Limited Interaction Targeted Epidemiology of HIV Study in Sexual and Gender Minority American Adolescents and Adults: The Keeping it LITE Study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil Gleason ◽  
Pedro Serrano ◽  
Alejandro Muñoz ◽  
Audrey French ◽  
Sybil Hosek
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Preventive Treatment ◽  
The United States ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
National Cohort ◽  
Minority Men

BACKGROUND HIV infection rates among sexual minority men and transgender individuals, particularly adolescents and young adults, remain elevated in the United States despite continued improvement in HIV public health response. However, there remains a knowledge gap in understanding what barriers this community faces in receiving HIV care and prevention resources. To address this, the Keeping it LITE study was conducted to assess HIV risk factors and barriers to preventive treatment in a large national cohort of young sexual minority men and transgender individuals at high risk of HIV infection. OBJECTIVE The objective of this formative research manuscript is to evaluate the feasibility of enrolling a large remote cohort, challenges encountered in recruitment, and adjustments made to address these challenges. METHODS A large national cohort (n=3444) of young sexual minority men and transgender individuals was recruited. Participants were recruited via advertisements on social media, LGBTQ+ apps, print advertising, and word of mouth. RESULTS The Keeping it LITE study was particularly successful in recruiting participants via social media, and was successful in recruiting a large sample of transgender youth, particularly transgender men and nonbinary individuals. At-home HIV testing was acceptable and even preferred by some participants, though several barriers were encountered and overcome in the implementation of this testing. The study had more limited success in recruiting 13-17-year-old participants due to lower enrollment rates and barriers to advertising on some social media platforms. Implications of these findings for future development of HIV research and intervention protocols among sexual minority and trans youth are discussed. CONCLUSIONS The methods utilized in the Keeping it LITE study, particularly recruitment via social media, were found to be feasible and acceptable to participants.

scholarly journals Characterisation of social support following incarceration among black sexual minority men and transgender women in the HPTN 061 cohort study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. e053334
Author(s):  
Joy D Scheidell ◽  
Typhanye V Dyer ◽  
Christopher Hucks-Ortiz ◽  
Jasmyn Abrams ◽  
Medha Mazumdar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Transgender Women ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
The Past ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Tangible Support ◽  
Minority Men

ObjectiveTo examine longitudinal associations between recent incarceration and subsequent social support among black sexual minority men and transgender women, and whether associations differed between those who did and did not have support prior to incarceration.DesignA secondary analysis in 2020 of data from the HIV Prevention Trials Network 061, a cohort study of black sexual minority men and transgender women recruited in 2009–2010 and followed for 12 months.SettingSix US cities (Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco and Washington DC).ParticipantsIndividuals ≥18 years of age who identified as black, reported being male or assigned male at birth, reported ≥1 unprotected anal intercourse event with a male partner in the past 6 months, and reported on incarceration at the 6-month follow-up visit.ExposureHaving spent ≥1 night in jail/prison in the past 6 months reported at the 6-month follow-up visit.OutcomeSocial support measured using a six-item scale assessing frequency of emotional/informational, affectionate and tangible support (range 6–30); and dichotomous indicators of low support for each item (ie, receiving that form of support none/little of the time).ResultsAmong participants who returned for the 6-month visit (N=1169), 14% had experienced incarceration in the past 6 months. Mean support score was 20.9; 18.9 among those with recent incarceration versus 21.2 among those without. Recent incarceration predicted lower support (adjusted β −2.40, 95% CI −3.94 to –0.85). Those recently incarcerated had increased risk of lacking emotional/informational (eg, no one to talk to adjusted risk ratio (aRR) 1.55, 95% CI 1.13 to 2.13) and affectionate (aRR 1.51, 95% CI 1.11 to 2.04) but not tangible support. Effects appeared somewhat stronger among those who had support at baseline.ConclusionsIncarceration may reduce support on re-entry among black sexual minority men and transgender women, populations unequally targeted for incarceration and at risk for low support.

Bis, Tris, Glutes and Lies: Objectification and Body Image Among App-Using Sexual Minority Men

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron S. Breslow ◽  
Anthea Chan ◽  
Eric Arnold ◽  
Elizabeth Glaeser ◽  
Aysegul Yucel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Image ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Minority Men

scholarly journals Rationale and design of the Prevent Anal Cancer Self-Swab Study: a protocol for a randomised clinical trial of home-based self-collection of cells for anal cancer screening

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. e051118
Author(s):  
Alan G Nyitray ◽  
Vanessa Schick ◽  
Michael D Swartz ◽  
Anna R Giuliano ◽  
Maria E Fernandez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anal Canal ◽  
Anal Cancer ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Hpv Dna ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Exfoliated Cells ◽  
Transgender Persons ◽  
Minority Men

IntroductionSquamous cell carcinoma of the anus is a common cancer among sexual minority men, especially HIV-positive sexual minority men; however, there is no evidenced-based national screening protocol for detection of anal precancers. Our objective is to determine compliance with annual anal canal self-sampling or clinician-sampling for human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA.Methods and analysisThis is a prospective, randomised, two-arm clinical study to evaluate compliance with annual home-based versus clinic-based HPV DNA screening of anal canal exfoliated cells. The setting is primary care community-based clinics. Recruitment is ongoing for 400 HIV-positive and HIV-negative sexual minority men and transgender persons, aged >25 years, English or Spanish speaking, no current use of anticoagulants other than nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and no prior diagnosis of anal cancer. Participants are randomised to either receive a swab in the mail for home-based collection of an anal canal specimen at 0 and 12 months (arm 1) or attend a clinic for clinician collection of an anal canal specimen at 0 and 12 months (arm 2). Persons will receive clinic-based Digital Anal Rectal Examinations and high-resolution anoscopy-directed biopsy to assess precancerous lesions, stratified by study arm. Anal exfoliated cells collected in the study are assessed for high-risk HPV persistence and host/viral methylation. The primary analysis will use the intention-to-treat principle to compare the proportion of those who comply with 0-month and 12-month sampling in the home-based and clinic-based arms. The a priori hypothesis is that a majority of persons will comply with annual screening with increased compliance among persons in the home-based arm versus clinic-based arm.Ethics and disseminationThe study has been approved by the Medical College of Wisconsin Human Protections Committee. Results will be disseminated to communities where recruitment occurred and through peer-reviewed literature and conferences.Trial registration numberNCT03489707.

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