Identifying Community-Informed Language to Promote HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in Black LGBTQ Communities in Baltimore

Abstract

LGBTQ populations, particularly Black men who have sex with men and transgender women, experience significant HIV disparities; public health messages may inadvertently stigmatize LGBTQ populations. We sought to use qualitative methods to inform a PrEP campaign. Unstructured focus groups were conducted among predominantly Black LGBTQ persons recruited through social media and events. Discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed in NVivo using categorical analysis. Eighty individuals participated in 13 focus groups; 80% (64) identified as sexual or gender minorities. Eighty-eight percent (70) identified as Black/African American. Four themes emerged: (1) culturally competent, community-informed, locally relevant messaging, (2) avoiding stigmatizing language or images, (3) inaccessibility of clinical language, and (4) using identity labels representing local communities and their diversity. Findings suggest PrEP campaigns need to be developed through community-informed processes to engage and avoid stigmatizing priority populations. Ongoing partnerships between public health and LGBTQ communities can facilitate development of campaigns with engaging, acceptable language.

A community-based participatory research approach to the development, refinement, and distribution of Test-to-PrEP: A peer-to-peer distributed at-home HIV self-test and prevention information kit in Miami-Dade, Florida

“…Spanish versions were then circulated among native Spanish-speaking panel members and project staff. This was done to ensure linguistic accuracy and cultural relevance, as research has shown that social context and local specificity of language is important for encouraging acceptability of public health messages directed at specific communities (Fields et al, 2020)…”

Safe Spaces 4 Sexual Health: A Status-Neutral, Mobile Van, HIV/STI Testing Intervention Using Online Outreach to Reach MSM at High Risk for HIV Acquisition or Transmission

“…The van was affixed with the study logo but was otherwise unmarked. Recruiting materials were communityinformed and tailored to Black MSM using findings from our team's prior work 25,26 and feedback from a community advisory board.…”

Mind the Gap: HIV Prevention Among Young Black Men Who Have Sex with Men

“…HIV prevention efforts targeting YBMSM should be developed and implemented based on the voices, perspectives, and priorities of YBMSM themselves [ 85 ]. Several models of community-informed practices including engaging priority populations in the development of prevention messages and campaigns [ 86 ], incorporation of youth or community advisory boards to inform clinical programming [ 87 ], and integration of peer or near-peer navigators with shared identity or experiences with YBMSM [ 88 ] have demonstrated promising effects.…”