Journal article 365 views
COVID-19–Related Stressors, Sex Behaviors, and HIV Status Neutral Care Among Black Men Who Have Sex With Men and Transgender Women in Chicago, USA
JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, Volume: 88, Issue: 3, Pages: 261 - 271
Swansea University Author: Liadh Timmins
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DOI (Published version): 10.1097/qai.0000000000002770
Abstract
Background: COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted vulnerable populations, including Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) and transgender women (BTW). We investigated associations of COVID-19 stressors and sex behaviors with pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and antiretroviral therapy (ART) among...
Published in: | JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes |
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ISSN: | 1525-4135 |
Published: |
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
2021
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Online Access: |
Check full text
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URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64172 |
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Abstract: |
Background: COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted vulnerable populations, including Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) and transgender women (BTW). We investigated associations of COVID-19 stressors and sex behaviors with pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and antiretroviral therapy (ART) among BMSM and BTW. Methods: As part of the Neighborhoods and Networks (N2) study, we conducted virtual interviews during peak COVID-19 infectivity in Chicago among BMSM and BTW (April–July 2020). Survey questions included multilevel COVID-19 stressors, sex behaviors, and current PrEP/ART use and access. Poisson regressions were used to examining relationships between COVID-19 stressors, sex behaviors, and PrEP/ART use/access. Results: Among 222 participants, 31.8% of participants not living with HIV reported current PrEP use and 91.8% of participants living with HIV reported ART use during the pandemic. Most (83.3% and 78.2%, respectively) reported similar or easier PrEP and ART access during the pandemic. Physical stress reaction to COVID-19 [adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 2.1; confidence interval (CI): 1.3 to 3.5] and being in close proximity with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 (aPR = 1.7; CI: 1.1 to 2.8) were associated with current PrEP use. Intimate partner violence (aPR = 2.7; CI: 1.0 to 7.2) and losing health insurance (aPR = 3.5; CI: 1.1 to 10.7) were associated with harder ART access. Travel-related financial burden was associated with harder access in PrEP (aPR = 3.2; CI: 1.0 to 10.1) and ART (aPR = 6.2; CI: 1.6 to 24.3). Conclusions: Multiple COVID-19 stressors were found to interfere with PrEP and ART use and access among BMSM and BTW. Contextually relevant strategies (eg, promoting telehealth and decreasing transportation burden) to address COVID-19 stressors and their sequelae should be considered to minimize disruption in HIV biomedical interventions. |
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College: |
Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences |
Issue: |
3 |
Start Page: |
261 |
End Page: |
271 |