RELEVANCE: Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) has the potential to reduce the number of new HIV infections among high-risk black and Latino men who have sex with men (BLMSM). However, issues related to the adoption of PrEP may negatively influence PrEP disclosure, diffusion, adherence and retention among BLMSM who adopt PrEP. The findings from this study will inform the development of intervention activities that seeks to prevent or moderate the negative social experiences associated with PrEP adoption and facilitate diffusion, adherence and retention to PrEP among minority MSM.

DESCRIPTION: The goal of this study is to learn about the experiences of BLMSM who have adopted PrEP and to assess its influence on PrEP disclosure, adherence and retention, and the diffusion of PrEP information to other potential BLMSM PrEP consumers. The specific aims of this study are: 1) to examine the experiences of BLMSM PrEP adopters; 2) to assess the extent and context of PrEP disclosure and dissemination of PrEP information by BLMSM PrEP users to other potential BLMSM PrEP consumers; and 3) to examine adherence and retention to PrEP, over time, among BLMSM PrEP adopters. BLMSM PrEP adopters will complete both a baseline and a 3-6-month follow-up interview. Follow-up interviews will assess changes in PrEP retention, adherence, disclosure and dissemination. Interviews with BLMSM non-PrEP adopters will determine the factors that may have influenced decisions to seek or not seek PrEP. Interviews will also be conducted with 20 medical providers to assess their perceptions of PrEP and PrEP stigma and concerns about the implementation of PrEP. The findings from this study will inform the development of intervention activities that seek to prevent or mitigate the negative social experiences associated with PrEP adoption and to optimize diffusion and retention to PrEP among minority MSM.

OUTCOMES: Two papers were published from this study.

  1. Brooks, R. A., Cabral, A., Nieto, O., Fehrenbacher, A., & Landrian, A. (2019). Experiences of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Stigma, Social Support, and Information Dissemination Among Black and Latina Transgender Women Who Are Using Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis. Transgender health, 4(1), 188–196. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31482134/
  2. Brooks, R. A., Nieto, O., Landrian, A., & Donohoe, T. J. (2019). Persistent stigmatizing and negative perceptions of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) users: implications for PrEP adoption among Latino men who have sex with men. AIDS care, 31(4), 427–435. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30021456/