JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Black Americans are disproportionately impacted by HIV in the United States (U.S.) This disparity is more profound in the Southern U.S., with the highest rates being among young, Black sexual minority men (YBSMM). YBSMM have a higher HIV diagnosis rate than their non-Black counterparts and are also less likely to receive pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Individual-level interventions to increase PrEP uptake do not often capitalize on the opportunity to leverage the significant effects of YBSMM’s social networks, including Black women, on attitudes, beliefs and behaviors around HIV prevention.

Objective:

To increase PrEP utilization, we designed an intervention, PrEP US NoW (PrEP Utilization through increasing Social Capital among YBMSM Networks with Women), that sought to engage YBSMM social networks in discussions with supportive Black female facilitators and ultimately enhance their social capital.

Methods:

The PrEP US NoW intervention first gathered qualitative information on core health-promoting elements of social capital bonds among YBSMM and Black women in extant social-support networks. This information was then applied to adapt an existing, evidence-based mHealth app to create PrEP US NoW. Information captured from intervention pilot will be used to determine feasibility and acceptability of PrEP US NoW, as well as preliminary efficacy for increasing PrEP uptake among YBSMM.

Results:

Phase 1 (development) of PrEP US Now research activities began in November 2019 and are ongoing. The data collection for the phase 2 pilot implementation trial is expected to be completed in January 2025. Final results are anticipated in summer 2025.

Conclusions:

The development and pilot implementation trial of the PrEP US NoW intervention is thought to leverage essential social capital among YBSMM, which is thought to promote engagement in PrEP care, thus decreasing the overall number of HIV diagnoses.