Intersectional stigma among Latino MSM and HIV prevention: barriers to HIV prevention and strategies to overcome the barriers.
Helen Zhu, Nicole A Stadnick, Jamila K Stockman, Marina Katague, Veronica Moore, Vicente Torres, Rosalinda Cano, Katherine Penninga, Jeannette Aldous, Kiyomi Tsuyuki
Author Information
Helen Zhu: Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
Nicole A Stadnick: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
Jamila K Stockman: Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
Marina Katague: Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
Veronica Moore: San Ysidro Health, San Diego, CA, USA.
Vicente Torres: San Ysidro Health, San Diego, CA, USA.
Rosalinda Cano: San Ysidro Health, San Diego, CA, USA.
Katherine Penninga: San Ysidro Health, San Diego, CA, USA.
Jeannette Aldous: San Ysidro Health, San Diego, CA, USA.
Kiyomi Tsuyuki: Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA. ORCID
Latino men, especially Latino men who have sex with men (LMSM), experience disparities in HIV prevention. Lack of attention to key barriers to care, such as stigma, result in inequitable access to HIV prevention and care for LMSM. This paper describes how intersectional stigma and related factors act as barriers to HIV prevention among Latino men and proposes strategies to overcome these barriers. Qualitative data were collected via in-depth interviews ( = 15) with Latino men about HIV prevention services, mobile outreach, peer navigation and care coordination, and analyzed using rapid qualitative methods. Three key themes emerged: (1) HIV stigma as a barrier to HIV testing, (2) sexual minority stigma as a barrier to accessing HIV prevention services and (3) strategies for stigma reduction, such as confidentiality, comprehensive education about HIV and prevention, and empathy and warmth from staff/care providers. Identified stigmas were intersectional. Addressing and reducing stigma is critical to engaging Latino men in HIV prevention and care, and requires strategies sensitive to the Latino cultural context and community.
