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

• Published in: BMC public health 2020-02, Vol.20 (1), p.248-248, Article 248
• Main Authors: Pagkas-Bather, Jade, Jaramillo, Jahn, Henry, Jsani, Grandberry, Vanessa, Ramirez, Luis F, Cervantes, Lorenzo, Stekler, Joanne D, Andrasik, Michele P, Graham, Susan M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acceptability; Adult; African Americans - psychology; African Americans - statistics & numerical data; Black; Community; Disease prevention; Disease transmission; Drug use; Ethnicity; Factor analysis; Gays & lesbians; Gender identity; Health care policy; Health insurance; Hispanic Americans - psychology; Hispanic Americans - statistics & numerical data; HIV; HIV Infections - prevention & control; HIV prevention; Homosexuality, Male - ethnology; Homosexuality, Male - psychology; Homosexuality, Male - statistics & numerical data; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Income; Latinx; Male; Men who have sex with men; Mens health; Middle Aged; Minority Groups - psychology; Minority Groups - statistics & numerical data; Navigation; Navigation behavior; Patient Acceptance of Health Care - ethnology; Patient Navigation; Peer Group; Peers; Population; Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis; Prophylaxis; Public health; Questionnaires; Regression analysis; Sexual behavior; Sexual orientation; Sexually transmitted diseases; STD; Stigma; Surveys and Questionnaires; Transgender persons; Washington
• ISSN: 1471-2458; 1471-2458
• DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-8325-5

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). 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. 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. 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.