Increasing HIV Testing and Viral Suppression via Stigma Reduction in a Social Networking Mobile Health Intervention Among Black and Latinx Young Men and Transgender Women Who Have Sex With Men (HealthMpowerment): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

摘要: Background: Stigma and discrimination related to sexuality, race, ethnicity, HIV status negatively impact testing, engagement in care, consistent viral suppression (VS) among young Black Latinx men who have sex with transgender women (YBLMT). Few interventions address the effects of intersectional stigma youth living those at risk for within same virtual space. Objective: Building on success HealthMpowerment (HMP) mobile health (mHealth) intervention (HMP 1.0) input a advisory board, HMP 2.0 is an app-based that promotes user-generated content social support reduce improve HIV-related outcomes YBLMT. The primary objective this study test whether participants randomized report improvement prevention care continuum compared information-only control arm. We will also explore participant engagement, as measured by paradata (data collected users interact mHealth intervention, eg, time spent using intervention), mediates stigma- care–related outcomes. Finally, we assess changes improvements vary across different types networks formed arms. Methods: enroll 1050 YBLMT aged 15 29 years affected United States. Using HIV-status stratified, trial design, be randomly assigned 1 3 conditions (information-only arm, researcher-created network arm 2.0, or peer-referred 2.0). Behavioral assessments occur baseline, 3, 6, 9, 12 months. For HIV, self-collected biomarkers (viral load) are scheduled HIV-negative participants, up self-testing kits available during period. Results: Research activities began September 2018 ongoing. University Pennsylvania central institutional review board (protocol #829805) reliance agreements North Carolina Chapel Hill, Duke University, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University. Study recruitment July 20, 2020. A total 205 been enrolled November 2020. Conclusions: Among large sample US-based YBLMT, designed ameliorate its negative sequelae, can increase routine testing VS HIV. If efficacious brought scale, has potential significantly disproportionate burden States. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03678181; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT03678181.