Characterizing the HIV care continuum among a community sample of black men who have sex with men in the United States

Abstract

Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) have the highest HIV incidence rates among all men who have sex with men (MSM) and have been less likely than other MSM to be diagnosed, linked or retained in care for HIV. The Promoting Our Worth, Equality, and Resilience (POWER) study administered a behavioral health survey and HIV test to BMSM to estimate the HIV continuum of care among a community-derived sample. Of the N=1,680 BMSM living with HIV, n=956 (56.9%) were aware of their HIV-positive status. BMSM who had been previously diagnosed reported progression through the care continuum at greater than 80% for linkage to medical care (97.6%), retention in medical care (97.3%), prescription of antiretroviral therapy (93.6%) and viral suppression (86.4%). Results of this analysis reveal the urgent need to ensure BMSM are being screened and diagnosed. Additionally, community-driven samples are a promising method offering the opportunity to build on the resilience of BMSM progressing though the continuum as well as engage BMSM not yet in care. Lastly, such methods can assist in communicating with those lost to retention.

<p>A Scoping Review of Patient Preferences for HIV Self-Testing Services in the United States: Implications for Harm Reduction</p>

“…1,2 There is ample evidence that populations overrepresented in the HIV epidemic are those who experience barriers to care and are less likely to be engaged in all stages of the HIV care and prevention continuum including diagnosis, linkage to and retention in care, antiretroviral use, viral suppression, and connection to preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and PrEP care resources. [2][3][4][5] As the first step in the continuum of care, improving HIV testing rates is vital. Although detection and case finding are of primary importance in getting people linked to HIV care or biobehavioral prevention opportunities, testing rates among all key populations remain far below the United Nations target of 90-90-90.…”