Interpersonal and Community-Level Influences Across the PrEP Cascade Among Young Adult Latinx Men who Have Sex with Men Living in a US-Mexico Border Region: A Qualitative Study.
Kristen J Wells, Janna R Gordon, Claudia M Carrizosa, Eduardo Hernandez Mozo, Nicholas C Lucido, Rosa A Cobian Aguilar, John P Brady, Sarah A Rojas, Christian B Ramers, Kelsey A Nogg, Kalina M L Fahey, Isaiah J Jones, David B Rivera, Aaron J Blashill
Author Information
Kristen J Wells: Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, 92120, USA. kwells@sdsu.edu. ORCID
Janna R Gordon: SDSU/UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA, 92120, USA.
Claudia M Carrizosa: San Diego State University Research Foundation, San Diego, CA, 92120, USA.
Eduardo Hernandez Mozo: Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, 92120, USA.
Nicholas C Lucido: Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, 92120, USA.
Rosa A Cobian Aguilar: Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, 92120, USA.
John P Brady: SDSU/UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA, 92120, USA.
Sarah A Rojas: Laura Rodriguez Research Institute-Family Health Centers of San Diego, San Diego, CA, 92102, USA.
Christian B Ramers: Laura Rodriguez Research Institute-Family Health Centers of San Diego, San Diego, CA, 92102, USA.
Kelsey A Nogg: San Diego State University Research Foundation, San Diego, CA, 92120, USA.
Kalina M L Fahey: Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, 92120, USA.
Isaiah J Jones: Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, 92120, USA.
David B Rivera: Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, 92120, USA.
Aaron J Blashill: Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, 92120, USA.
Latinx men who have sex with men (MSM) are an at-risk population for new HIV diagnoses. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a suite of biomedical approaches to prevent HIV infection. Latinx MSM are less likely to take PrEP compared to non-Latinx White MSM. This qualitative study identified interpersonal- and community-level barriers and facilitators of PrEP among young adult Latinx MSM. Using stratified purposeful sampling, 27 Latinx men, ages 19-29 years and living in a US-Mexico border region, completed self-report demographic surveys and participated in semi-structured in-depth interviews assessing barriers and facilitators to PrEP. Directed content analysis was used to identify both a priori and emerging themes. Most participants reported that other people, including peers, friends, partners, and health care providers were both supportive and discouraging of PrEP use. Participants' intersectional identities as members of both Latinx and LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer) communities both hindered and facilitated PrEP use.
