Peer Intervention Latino Immigrant MSM

Development of a Peer Intervention to Increase HIV/STI Testing and PrEP Uptake Among Latino Immigrant Men Who Have Sex With Men

This study evaluates a peer intervention with HIV/STI self-testing kits to increase HIV/STI testing and PrEP uptake among Latino immigrant men who have sex with men. Half of participants will receive the "Listos" intervention (peer counseling, PrEP information, and HIV/STI testing kits) and half will receive the active control intervention (peer only group with no HIV/STI testing kits).

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: HIV Infections; Sexually Transmitted Diseases
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Peer counseling; Diagnostic test: HIV/STI self-testing kits

Detailed Description

HIV testing is crucial for early detection of HIV infection; yet, Latino immigrants are at high risk for late HIV diagnosis. Increased screening for HIV and STIs is particularly important for Latino immigrant men who have sex with men (MSM), a group disproportionately at risk for HIV that also encounters barriers to health access due to factors associated with immigrant status. Latino MSM recently experienced a significant increase (25%) in new HIV diagnoses (2008-2015), while diagnoses among MSM overall remained stable. Based on these trends, 1 in 4 Latino MSM will be diagnosed with HIV in their lifetimes, highlighting their urgent need for HIV prevention. Notably, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can reduce risk of HIV among high-risk groups; yet, only 3% of Latinos who could benefit from PrEP have received it. As undiagnosed HIV contributes to 40% of new HIV infections, and STIs increase HIV risk, targeted interventions that address Latino immigrant MSM's barriers to HIV/STI testing and PrEP uptake are critical for curbing the HIV epidemic.

Studies have shown that peers can influence HIV-related behaviors by enhancing information, motivation, and behavior skills (IMB Model). Peers share characteristics with the target population, which facilitates role modeling and can empower individuals to engage in behaviors. While peer interventions have demonstrated success in shaping behaviors among Latino MSM, their utility for addressing immigrant-specific barriers to HIV/STI testing and PrEP use is less understood.

While the IMB Model and empowerment theory highlight relevant psychological determinants of behavior, competent attention to structural factors (i.e. access) is key for HIV prevention. The availability of HIV/STI self-testing kits presents opportunities to overcome structural barriers to testing. HIV/STI self-testing kits are convenient testing methods as they allow for at-home testing, reducing the need for health care visits. The research combines these approaches (peers and HIV/STI self-testing kits) to address individual and structural barriers to HIV prevention among Latino immigrant MSM.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 50
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Washington
    • Seattle, Washington, United States, 98105
      • University of Washington

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Male

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• male sex (at birth)
• adult aged 18 and older
• immigrant (not born in continental U.S.)
• Latino (identifies as either Latinx or Hispanic
• reports sex with men in past 12 months
• reports not knowing their HIV status or being HIV negative

Exclusion Criteria:

• Does not identify as Latino/Hispanic
• Born in the continental U.S.
• Female sex (at birth)
• Does not report sex with men in the last 12 months
• Reports being HIV positive
• Younger than 18 years old

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Screening
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Listos peer intervention; Listos intervention (peer counseling, PrEP information, and HIV/STI testing kits)	Other: Peer counseling; Information, motivation, and behavioral skills for HIV/STI testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake; Diagnostic test: HIV/STI self-testing kits; Kits to self-test for HIV/STIs
Active Comparator: Peer only group; Peer only group (peer counseling, PrEP information)	Other: Peer counseling; Information, motivation, and behavioral skills for HIV/STI testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of participants who test for HIV/STIs	Report of having tested for HIV or STIs	1 week
Number of participants who test for HIV/STIs	Report of having tested for HIV or STIs	6 weeks
Number of participants who test for HIV/STIs	Report of having tested for HIV or STIs	12 weeks
Number of participants who initiate PrEP	Report of use of PrEP	1 week
Number of participants who initiate PrEP	Report of use of PrEP	6 weeks
Number of participants who initiate PrEP	Report of use of PrEP	12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Washington
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Jane J Lee, PhD, LMSW, University of Washington

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 1, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 1, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): February 28, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 15, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 18, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): April 19, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 17, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 16, 2022
• Last Verified: May 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Infections; Communicable Diseases; Disease Attributes; Sexually Transmitted Diseases
• Other Study ID Numbers: STUDY00007054; KL2TR002317 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No