A review of current strategies to improve HIV prevention and treatment in sexual and gender minority Latinx (SGML) communities

ABSTRACT

Introduction

The HIV epidemic continues to disproportionately impact sexual and gender minority Latinxs (SGML). Several syndemic conditions have been linked with HIV acquisition and transmission among SGML including immigration, discrimination, environmental racism, substance use, and mental health.

Areas covered

We provide a summary of biomedical, behavioral, and social/structural interventions to reduce risks for acquiring HIV and improve outcomes along the HIV care continuum among SGML. We also discuss intervention approaches and opportunities that respond at the intersection of HIV and COVID-19 prevention and treatment.

Expert opinion

There is a dire need for the combination of biomedical, behavioral, and social/structural interventions to reduce risks for acquiring HIV and improve outcomes along the HIV care continuum. Interventions and combination approaches should be driven by community-based participatory action research. The inclusion of community members in all stages of the research process can assure successful implementation of program activities and deliverables, including the provision of culturally and linguistically appropriate services. Given the current COVID-19 pandemic, which is disproportionately impacting individuals living with HIV and other comorbidities, the elderly, and under-resourced communities with a ferocity not seen in other communities, intervention approaches that respond at the intersection of HIV and COVID-19 prevention and treatment are also urgently needed.

KEYWORDS:

• HIV/AIDS
• sexual and gender minority Latinxs
• biobehavioral interventions
• community-based participatory action research
• medical legal partnerships

Article highlights

• Sexual and gender minority Latinxs (SGML) in the U.S. continue to be disproportionately impacted by HIV.

• Social and structural conditions including immigration, discrimination, and environmental racism have been linked with HIV acquisition and transmission among SGML.

• To effectively curb HIV among SGML, multiple conditions must be addressed concurrently.

• Biobehavioral and community-based participatory action research approaches should be promoted in HIV prevention and treatment among SGML.

• Incremental development and update of structural interventions, including medical legal partnerships, are central to HIV prevention and treatment national priorities.

• Interventions and approaches that respond at the intersection of HIV and COVID-19 prevention and treatment are urgently needed.

Acknowledgments

A special thanks to all community members who have contributed to the development of HIV prevention and treatment interventions and programs described in this opinion piece; in particular, those living and impacted by HIV.. We would also like to thank Robin Davison, JD, MPH, MS, Associate Research Scientist at Temple University’s School of Social Work, for her feedback and input on earlier versions of this review.

Declaration of interest

The author has no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.