IntroductionMen who have sex with men (MSM) are one of the most at-risk group for contracting HIV in the USA. However, the HIV epidemic impacts some groups of MSM disproportionately. Latino MSM comprise 25.1% of new HIV infections among MSM between the ages of 13 and 29 years. The daily medication tenofovir/emtricitabine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in 2012 and has demonstrated strong efficacy in reducing HIV acquisition.Methods and analysisThrough extensive formative research, this study uses a pilot randomised controlled trial design and will examine the feasibility and acceptability of a patient navigation intervention designed to address multiple barriers to improve engagement in the PrEP continuum among 60 Latino MSM between the ages of 18 and 29 years. The patient navigation intervention will be compared with usual care plus written information to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention and study methods and the intervention’s potential in improving PrEP continuum behaviours. The results will be reviewed for preparation for a future full-scale efficacy trial.Ethics and disseminationThis study was approved by the institutional review board at San Diego State University and is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov. The intervention development process, plan and the results of this study will be shared through peer-reviewed journal publications, conference presentations and healthcare system and community presentations.Registration detailsRegistered under the National Institutes of Health’s ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04048382) on 7 August 2019 and approved by the San Diego State University (HS-2017–0187) institutional review board. This study began on 5 August 2019 and is estimated to continue through 31 March 2021. The clinical trial is in the pre-results stage.

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Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated previously existing disparities and introduced new challenges for individuals living at the intersection of marginalized identities, such as Latinx women. For instance, increases in alcohol use have been noted during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet it is unclear which circumstances experienced are more likely to predict alcohol use among Latinx women. Method: The present study sought to identify the profile of intersectional factors, namely immigrant status, socioeconomic standing, and age, and COVID-19 stressors that predicted high or hazardous alcohol use among 1,227 Latinx women living in the United States. Results: The main findings, in the form of a binomial logistic regression, revealed a pattern of circumstances that differentiated high and low alcohol use including income, age, history of COVID-19 infection, disruptions in work, and emotional health difficulties. Conclusions: Overall, the present study provides an important contribution to the extant research literature by demonstrating the importance of considering syndemic effects of COVID-19 when addressing health behaviors for Latinx women.

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