From Stories to Solutions: Using Video Vignettes to Develop Culturally Relevant Stigma Reduction and HIV Prevention Interventions for Young Latino Sexual Minority Men

Introduction: Young Latino sexual minority men (YLSMM) face multiple forms of stigma related to HIV, sexuality, race, ethnicity, and immigration. These stigmas intersect to create barriers to HIV prevention and engagement in care. Guided by a positive youth development (PYD) framework, this study used video-based storytelling to engage YLSMM and providers in designing culturally relevant, assets-based interventions that promote resilience, affirm identity, and address stigma. The project illustrates how community-derived narratives can be transformed into effective programming for youth-centered stigma reduction and HIV prevention.

Methods: We conducted in-depth interviews with 26 YLSMM (ages 18–24) to capture lived experiences related to stigma and HIV prevention. Based on their narratives, we developed four video vignettes portraying hypothetical but realistic scenarios of YLSMM’s experiences of stigma and coping in various contexts (e.g., family, workplace, schools, and healthcare settings). The vignettes were then used as discussion prompts in follow-up interviews with 20 additional YLSMM and 12 key informants, including HIV service providers, mental health professionals, and youth advocates. These interviews explored participants’ responses to the vignettes, elicited ideas for intervention content and structure, assessed delivery preferences (e.g., digital vs. in-person formats), and identified implementation challenges. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically, with the youth advisory board engaged in member-checking and refinement of key themes and recommendations.

Findings: The vignettes validated YLSMM’s experiences and facilitated a dialogue about topics often left unspoken. Key intervention components identified included support groups that provide safe, affirming spaces for peer connection and shared learning; explicit discussion of stigma, including internalized, anticipated, and enacted forms, and how these intersect with racism, xenophobia, and homophobia; mental health and substance use support, including content on negative effects of stigma, adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies, and referrals to affirming providers; culturally relevant resources, including Spanish-language content, immigrant-inclusive messaging, and LGBTQ+ Latinx role models; and family-inclusive strategies that help caregivers understand sexual health and HIV-related topics in culturally congruent ways. Participants also emphasized key barriers to HIV testing and PrEP, such as mistrust of providers, language barriers, and cost. Suggestions included embedding HIV prevention content within broader wellness conversations, training providers in cultural humility, and expanding access points through trusted community organizations. Participants also emphasized that youth-led facilitation, story-sharing, and interactive discussions anchored in real-life scenarios were critical for engagement and learning.

Conclusion. Our study demonstrates how, when transformed into vignettes, youth-generated narratives can catalyze meaningful dialogue and inform the design of culturally grounded stigma reduction and HIV prevention interventions. Integrating PYD principles—such as contribution and leadership and asset-based framing—creates an enabling environment for support, connection, and skill-building. Our study findings also offer clear implications for social work practice and policy: supporting participatory, culturally tailored program development is essential to advancing equity in HIV prevention for young Latino sexual minority men. Transformative change requires collaboration of social workers, public health professionals, and policymakers to ensure these interventions are resourced, scaled, and sustained as part of a broader commitment to positive youth development.