Exploring How Conversations about Sexual Health Influence Ending the HIV Epidemic Among Black and Latinx Youth in the U.S

Background and Purpose: The United States (U.S.) federal government has established a goal of ending the HIV epidemic (EHE) by 2030. Despite reductions in rates of HIV incidence, the virus increasingly affects adolescents and young adults. Youth aged 13 to 24 comprise 20% of new HIV diagnoses, with many likely to be unaware of their HIV status. Racial disparities pertaining to HIV incidence are widely documented, with Black and LatinX Americans disproportionately impacted. Black and LatinX youth aged 15 to 24 in particular report the highest HIV incidence rates in the U.S. Black youth account for more than 60% of new HIV infections and LatinX youth account for approximately 20%.

To date, few studies of Black and LatinX youth populations investigate the role of having conversations about sexual health as a potential strategy for curtailing HIV incidence. The current study investigates whether having conversations about sexual health informs a sense of personal agency among Black and LatinX youth to achieve an HIV-free generation. In this study, we examine whether having conversations about sexual health contributed to youths’: (1) knowledge and awareness of the national plan for EHE, and (2) their role in ending the epidemic.

Methods: We conducted secondary data analysis of the National Survey of Teens and Young Adults on attitudes towards HIV/AIDS. The study sample includes Black and LatinX youth (N = 704). The majority of the sample was between the ages of 18 and 24 (61%) and the majority identified as female (56%). We conducted multiple regression analysis to examine whether having conversations about sexual health contributed to youths’: (1) knowledge and awareness of the national plan for EHE, and (2) their role in ending the epidemic.

Results: The overall model was statistically significant (R² = .16 F [12, 704] = 000, p <.001) for both outcomes. Results highlighted a statistically significant and positive relationship between having sexual health conversations about HIV and playing a role in achieving EHE (β .21; p <.001). There was a positive relationship between talking about HIV with a sexual partner and playing a role in EHE (β 0.24; p <.001) and between HIV testing and playing a role in EHE (β .18; p <.001). Results also revealed a statistically significant and positive relationship between having sexual health conversations and hearing about EHE (β .18; p <.001). We also observed a positive relationship between individuals talking about HIV with a sexual partner and hearing about EHE (β .36; p <.001). There was also a positive relationship between being glad a person brought up HIV testing as well as hearing about EHE (β .16; p <.001).

Conclusions and Implications: Study results demonstrate that openly communicating about sexual health and HIV may contribute to a sense personal agency among Black and LatinX youth. Additionally, understanding whether having conversations about sexual health contributes to a sense of personal agency among youth may inform HIV prevention efforts to achieve the goals set forth by the national EHE plan for the U.S.