Abstract: A Community-Driven Approach to Stigma Reduction and HIV Prevention in Young Latino Sexual Minority Men in North Carolina (Society for Social Work and Research 29th Annual Conference)

Schedule:

Thursday, January 16, 2025

Willow B, Level 2 (Sheraton Grand Seattle)

* noted as presenting author

Rainier Masa, PhD, Associate Professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC

Dicky Baruah, MA Counseling, Doctoral Student, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, India

Orlando Marinez, Project Manager, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Durham, NC

Oscar Pineda, Community Outreach Coordinator, El Centro Hispano, Durham, NC

Natalia Villegas, PhD, Associate Professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC

Elsa Huerta, LGBTQ+ Coordinator (El Centro Hispano), El Centro Hispano, Chapel Hill, NC

Don Operario, PhD, Professor, Emory University, 30322, GA

Background and Purpose

The high rate of new HIV diagnoses and low uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among young Latino sexual minority men (YLSMM) makes this population a priority in the United States National HIV and AIDS Strategy, which outlines efforts by the federal partners to end the HIV epidemic in the country. Research has linked multiple or intersecting layers of stigma as a major contributor to HIV disparities among young Latino sexual minority men. Addressing stigma to improve uptake of PrEP and reduce HIV incidence requires the involvement of young Latino men and trusted community organizations as equal partners throughout the research process. This study describes a collaborative and community-driven research project that aims to develop a stigma reduction and HIV prevention program for young Latino sexual minority men in North Carolina.

Methods

We used a mixed-methods, community-driven research that involved young Latino sexual minority men (n=46), a community-based partner, a youth advisory board (n=5), and care providers (n=15) as partners to explore stigma experiences and resilience and resistance strategies and to develop an intervention model. We conducted focus group discussions and in-depth interviews and collected a brief questionnaire. The project included two phases: Phase 1, characterizing experiences of stigma and resilience, and Phase 2, exploring ideas and preferences for intervention design and implementation factors.

Results

Results from Phase 1 included four vignettes, or short stories of hypothetical YLSMM and their stigma and healthcare experiences, and key multilevel resilience and resistance strategies used by YLSMM to overcome stigma and adhere to HIV preventive behaviors. Results from Phase 2 included common preferences for intervention design attributes as described by youth and members of the youth advisory board and implementation factors affecting uptake and acceptability of the intervention as identified by community- and clinic-based providers.

Conclusion and Implications

Our study illustrates the feasibility of a community-driven, collaborative process involving YLSMM in developing research questions and creating programs that affect their lives. Partnership with a trusted community-based provider with a dedicated unit for Latino sexual minority men ensured successful outreach and recruitment of a diverse group of YLSMM, including those who are rarely represented in research. This representation allows them to contribute to the social construction of knowledge and actions to reduce stigma and its adverse effects on HIV prevention. Their knowledge and actions will inform the development of stigma reduction and HIV prevention interventions that incorporate and value the lived experiences and assets of YLSMM and their community.