What’s PrEP?: peer navigator acceptability among minority MSM in Washington

Abstract

Background: Peer navigation is a promising strategy to link at-risk minority men who have sex with men (MSM) to HIV prevention services including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Methods: Thirty-two Black and 63 Latinx HIV-negative MSM living in western Washington completed a survey examining attitudes towards peer navigation and PrEP. Factor analysis derived a score for peer navigator acceptability, and linear regression identified associations with this outcome. Results: Forty-eight percent were interested in peer navigation. Being insured, higher sexual stigma, and higher PHQ-9 score were associated with higher acceptability, while higher income and having a regular medical provider were associated with lower acceptability. In multivariable analysis, higher sexual stigma predicted higher acceptability, while higher income predicted lower acceptability. Men preferred that peers be matched on sexual orientation, race, age and culture. Conclusion: Peer navigation interventions to reach minority men should address stigma, focus on lower-income men, and try to match peers to clients to the extent possible.

Multi-level considerations for optimal implementation of long-acting injectable antiretroviral therapy to treat people living with HIV: perspectives of health care providers participating in phase 3 trials

“…“offer a support platform for patients”, “recall [smart phone] application for injection date”, “online peer navigators”), the use of technology and online resources should be explored as an opportunity to provide what was perceived as much needed patient support for LA ART delivery. Evidence of such strategies has shown to be successful in encouraging appointment adherence [ 47 , 48 ], fostering virtual health communities among chronic-disease patients [ 49 ], and providing support networks for stigmatized populations [ 50 ]. With the potential to address some of the key barriers providers perceived to patient success on LA ART, these strategies warrant further consideration and research.…”

Novel Platforms for Biomedical HIV Prevention Delivery to Key Populations — Community Mobile Clinics, Peer-Supported, Pharmacy-Led PrEP Delivery, and the Use of Telemedicine

“…In the Theta Nami project (South Africa), peer-navigators approached adolescent and young people in the community, engaged them on HIV prevention methods while identifying and minimizing barriers to healthcare uptake which led to 89% (of 6871 young people) welcoming health promotion from a peer [ 34 ]. Peer-navigators among minority groups were seen as a trusted source of information (by 73% of participants) and a useful resource in navigating the healthcare system allowing for PrEP access to populations that might not easily seek out healthcare in traditional clinical settings where they feel under-represented [ 5 , 35 ]. This strategy in the Princess PrEP program (in Thailand) promoted PrEP access for transgender people and was assessed as an effective strategy for the de-medicalization of PrEP as patients are engaging with individuals who “truly understands KP’s lifestyle” [ 5 ].…”

Predictors of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Uptake in a Sexual Health Clinic With Rapid PrEP Initiation

“…Taken together, these results suggest that individuals with the socioeconomic means to utilize health services engaged best with the rapid PrEP model. Potential areas of future research include implementation of peer navigators [ 51 ], as well as colocalization of PrEP, mental health, and substance use services [ 51 , 52 ].…”