Psychosocial Syndemic Burden, Sexual Behaviors, and Engagement in HIV Prevention Care Among Sexual and Gender Minority Youths: United States, 2022

To examine linear and nonlinear associations between psychosocial syndemic factors and HIV risk and engagement in HIV prevention care among sexual and gender minority (SGM) youths. Between February and October 2022, we recruited 17 578 SGM youths aged 13 to 18 years in the United States for an onlin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of public health (1971) 2024-09, Vol.114 (9), p.892-902
Main Authors: Valente, Pablo K, Neupane, Raghavee, Eaton, Lisa, Watson, Ryan J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Female
HIV Infections - epidemiology
HIV Infections - prevention & control
Humans
Male
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis - statistics & numerical data
Sexual and Gender Minorities - psychology
Sexual and Gender Minorities - statistics & numerical data
Sexual Behavior - psychology
Sexual Behavior - statistics & numerical data
Substance-Related Disorders - epidemiology
Syndemic
United States - epidemiology
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Summary:To examine linear and nonlinear associations between psychosocial syndemic factors and HIV risk and engagement in HIV prevention care among sexual and gender minority (SGM) youths. Between February and October 2022, we recruited 17 578 SGM youths aged 13 to 18 years in the United States for an online survey. We examined the relationship of syndemics (i.e., binge drinking, drug use, sexual victimization, and anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender discrimination) with sexual behaviors (i.e., sexual initiation, condomless anal or vaginal sex, and number of sexual partners) and HIV prevention care (i.e., HIV testing, preexposure prophylaxis awareness and utilization) using regression. Psychosocial syndemic burden (number of syndemic factors reported) was linearly and cubically associated with engagement in sexual behaviors. Psychosocial syndemic burden was linearly associated with higher HIV testing and preexposure prophylaxis awareness and cubically associated with higher preexposure prophylaxis utilization. Our findings are evidence of synergism across psychosocial syndemic factors regarding HIV risk and engagement in HIV prevention care among SGM youths in the United States. Multicomponent interventions may help reduce HIV risk and promote access to HIV prevention services among SGM individuals aged 13 to 18 years. ( . 2024;114(9):892-902. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307753).
ISSN:0090-0036
1541-0048
1541-0048
DOI:10.2105/AJPH.2024.307753