1
|
Loosier PS, Ogale YP, Smith RC, Kachur R, Nicolae L, Heumann C. Sexual Behavior and Sexual Decision-Making Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Observations from a Rapid Ethnographic Assessment in Marion County, Indiana, October-November 2021. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2024; 53:871-877. [PMID: 38253741 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-023-02795-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
From 2020 to 2021, Marion County, Indiana, USA, saw an increase in early syphilis diagnoses, primarily among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). This rapid ethnographic assessment combines survey data from GBMSM with data from key informant interviews with multiple groups of stakeholders, including GBMSM, to describe how COVID-19 impacted sexual behaviors, sexual decision-making, and access to sexually transmitted disease (STD) services among GBMSM in Marion County, Indiana. A total of 62 virtual, semi-structured qualitative interviews with 72 key respondents including health department staff, medical providers, community-based organization staff, and GBMSM were conducted from October 14 to November 22, 2021. Modifications to partner-seeking and sexual behaviors attributable to the pandemic were associated with the way in which individuals reacted to the pandemic in general. Some GBMSM adopted mitigation strategies to avoid COVID-19 when meeting sex partners, such as creating a "sex pod." Effects on mental health included increased loneliness, heightened anxiety, and a sense of hopelessness regarding the perceived inevitability of acquiring COVID-19. For some, the latter prompted decreased engagement in preventive measures when engaging in sexual activity. The pandemic decreased access to STD services and significantly curtailed public health outreach efforts, which may have limited access to needed STD treatment and care. Efforts focusing on ongoing public health concerns during extreme health events like COVID-19 may want to consider the many ways these events affect ancillary behaviors, such sexual decision-making and sexual behaviors. The role of mental health is key; messaging and guidance may benefit from a trauma-informed approach.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Penny S Loosier
- Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, MS US12-2, Atlanta, GA, 30329-4027, USA.
| | - Yasmin P Ogale
- Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, MS US12-2, Atlanta, GA, 30329-4027, USA
- Epidemic Intelligence Service, Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology and Laboratory Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Rachel Clark Smith
- Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, MS US12-2, Atlanta, GA, 30329-4027, USA
| | - Rachel Kachur
- Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, MS US12-2, Atlanta, GA, 30329-4027, USA
| | - Lavinia Nicolae
- Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, MS US12-2, Atlanta, GA, 30329-4027, USA
| | - Christine Heumann
- Marion County Public Health Department, Bell Flower Clinic and STD Control Program, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Knox JR, Dolotina B, Moline T, Matthews I, Durrell M, Hanson H, Almirol E, Hotton A, Pagkas-Bather J, Chen YT, English D, Manuzak J, Rower JE, Miles C, Millar B, Jean-Louis G, Rendina HJ, Martins SS, Grov C, Hasin DS, Carrico AW, Shoptaw S, Schneider JA, Duncan DT. HIV Prevention and Care Among Black Cisgender Sexual Minority Men and Transgender Women: Protocol for an HIV Status-Neutral Cohort Study Using an Observational-Implementation Hybrid Approach. JMIR Res Protoc 2023; 12:e48548. [PMID: 38039075 PMCID: PMC10724817 DOI: 10.2196/48548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Black cisgender gay, bisexual, and other sexual minority men (SMM) and transgender women (TW) continue to be heavily affected by HIV. Further research is needed to better understand HIV prevention and care outcomes in this population. In particular, there is a need for research examining the impact of substance use and sleep health on HIV prevention and treatment outcomes among Black SMM and TW. OBJECTIVE This paper outlines the study methods being used in the recently launched follow-up study to the Neighborhoods and Networks (N2) study, which we refer to as N2 Part 2 (N2P2). N2P2 aims to address this gap in the literature, build off the findings of the original N2 study, and identify socioenvironmental determinants of health, including whether neighborhood and network factors mediate and moderate these relationships. METHODS Building on the N2 cohort study in Chicago from 2018 to 2022, N2P2 used a prospective longitudinal cohort design and an observational-implementation hybrid approach. With sustained high levels of community engagement, we aim to recruit a new sample of 600 Black SMM and TW participants residing in the Chicago metropolitan statistical area. Participants are asked to participate in 3 study visits across an 18-month study period (1 visit every 9 months). Four different forms of data are collected per wave: (1) an in-person survey, (2) biological specimen collection, (3) a daily remote ecological momentary assessment for 14 days after each study visit, and (4) data from electronic health records. These forms of data collection continue to assess neighborhood and network factors and specifically explore substance use, sleep, immune function, obesity, and the implementation of potential interventions that address relevant constructs (eg, alcohol use and pre-exposure prophylaxis adherence). RESULTS The N2P2 study was funded in August 2021 by the National Institute of Drug Abuse (R01DA054553 and R21DA053156) and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01HL160325). This study was launched in November 2022. Recruitment and enrollment for the first wave of data collection are currently ongoing. CONCLUSIONS The N2P2 study is applying innovative methods to comprehensively explore the impacts of substance use and sleep health on HIV-related outcomes among an HIV status-neutral cohort of Black SMM and TW in Chicago. This study is applying an observational-implementation hybrid design to help us achieve findings that support rapid translation, a critical priority among populations such as Black SMM and TW that experience long-standing inequities with regard to HIV and other health-related outcomes. N2P2 will directly build off the findings that have resulted from the original N2 study among Black SMM and TW in Chicago. These findings provide a better understanding of multilevel (eg, individual, network, and neighborhood) factors that contribute to HIV-related outcomes and viral suppression among Black SMM and TW. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/48548.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Justin R Knox
- Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Brett Dolotina
- Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Tyrone Moline
- Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Isabella Matthews
- Chicago Center for HIV Elimination, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Mainza Durrell
- Chicago Center for HIV Elimination, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Hillary Hanson
- Chicago Center for HIV Elimination, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Ellen Almirol
- Chicago Center for HIV Elimination, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Anna Hotton
- Chicago Center for HIV Elimination, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Jade Pagkas-Bather
- Chicago Center for HIV Elimination, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Yen-Tyng Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Devin English
- Department of Psychiatry, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Jennifer Manuzak
- Division of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Joseph E Rower
- Center for Human Toxicology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Caleb Miles
- Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Brett Millar
- Department of Psychiatry, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Girardin Jean-Louis
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States
| | - H Jonathon Rendina
- Department of Epidemiology, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Silvia S Martins
- Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Christian Grov
- Einstein-CUNY-Rockefeller Center for AIDS Research, School of Public Health and Health Policy, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
| | - Deborah S Hasin
- Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Adam W Carrico
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States
| | - Steve Shoptaw
- Department of Family Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - John A Schneider
- Chicago Center for HIV Elimination, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Dustin T Duncan
- Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Campbell CK, Dubé K, Sauceda JA, Sevelius JM, Green-Ajufo B, Brown B, Ndukwe S, Saberi P. Cash Transfer Apps are a Feasible, Acceptable, and More Equitable Method for Compensating Participants in HIV Research. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2023; 93:e9-e11. [PMID: 36976553 PMCID: PMC10272053 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000003199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Chadwick K. Campbell
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity; University of California San Diego; La Jolla, CA; USA
| | - Karine Dubé
- UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Chapel Hill, NC; USA
| | - John A. Sauceda
- Division of Prevention Science, Department of Medicine; University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; USA
| | - Jae M. Sevelius
- Division of Prevention Science, Department of Medicine; University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; USA
| | - Barbara Green-Ajufo
- Division of Prevention Science, Department of Medicine; University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; USA
| | - Brandon Brown
- Center for Healthy Communities, Division of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine; University of California, Riverside; Riverside, CA; USA
| | - Samuel Ndukwe
- UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Chapel Hill, NC; USA
| | - Parya Saberi
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity; University of California San Diego; La Jolla, CA; USA
| |
Collapse
|