TY - JOUR
T1 - Social Support Networks Among Young Men and Transgender Women of Color Receiving HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
AU - Wood, Sarah
AU - Dowshen, Nadia
AU - Bauermeister, José A.
AU - Lalley-Chareczko, Linden
AU - Franklin, Joshua
AU - Petsis, Danielle
AU - Swyryn, Meghan
AU - Barnett, Kezia
AU - Weissman, Gary E.
AU - Koenig, Helen C.
AU - Gross, Robert
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine
PY - 2020/3
Y1 - 2020/3
N2 - Purpose: The aim of the study was to characterize perceived social support for young men and transgender women who have sex with men (YM/TWSM) taking HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Methods: Mixed-methods study of HIV-negative YM/TWSM of color prescribed oral PrEP. Participants completed egocentric network inventories characterizing their social support networks and identifying PrEP adherence support figures. A subset (n = 31) completed semistructured interviews exploring adherence support and qualities of PrEP support figures. We calculated proportions of role types (e.g., family), individuals disclosed to regarding PrEP use, and PrEP-supportive individuals within each participant network. Interviews were analyzed using an inductive approach. Results: Participants (n = 50) were predominately African American men who have sex with men. Median age was 22 years (interquartile range: 20–23). Biologic family were the most common support figures, reported by 75% of participants (mean family proportion .37 [standard deviation (SD): .31]), followed by 67% reporting friends (mean friend proportion .38 [SD: .36]). Most network members were aware (mean disclosed proportion .74 [SD: .31]) and supportive (mean supportive proportion .87 [SD: .28]) of the participants’ PrEP use. Nearly all (98%) participants identified ≥1 figure who provided adherence support; more often friends (48%) than family (36%). Participants characterized support as instrumental (e.g., transportation); emotional (e.g., affection); and social interaction (e.g., taking medication together). Key characteristics of PrEP support figures included closeness, dependability, and homophily (alikeness) with respect to sexual orientation. Conclusions: Although most YM/TWSM identified family in their support networks, friends were most often cited as PrEP adherence support figures. Interventions to increase PrEP adherence should consider integrated social network and family-based approaches.
AB - Purpose: The aim of the study was to characterize perceived social support for young men and transgender women who have sex with men (YM/TWSM) taking HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Methods: Mixed-methods study of HIV-negative YM/TWSM of color prescribed oral PrEP. Participants completed egocentric network inventories characterizing their social support networks and identifying PrEP adherence support figures. A subset (n = 31) completed semistructured interviews exploring adherence support and qualities of PrEP support figures. We calculated proportions of role types (e.g., family), individuals disclosed to regarding PrEP use, and PrEP-supportive individuals within each participant network. Interviews were analyzed using an inductive approach. Results: Participants (n = 50) were predominately African American men who have sex with men. Median age was 22 years (interquartile range: 20–23). Biologic family were the most common support figures, reported by 75% of participants (mean family proportion .37 [standard deviation (SD): .31]), followed by 67% reporting friends (mean friend proportion .38 [SD: .36]). Most network members were aware (mean disclosed proportion .74 [SD: .31]) and supportive (mean supportive proportion .87 [SD: .28]) of the participants’ PrEP use. Nearly all (98%) participants identified ≥1 figure who provided adherence support; more often friends (48%) than family (36%). Participants characterized support as instrumental (e.g., transportation); emotional (e.g., affection); and social interaction (e.g., taking medication together). Key characteristics of PrEP support figures included closeness, dependability, and homophily (alikeness) with respect to sexual orientation. Conclusions: Although most YM/TWSM identified family in their support networks, friends were most often cited as PrEP adherence support figures. Interventions to increase PrEP adherence should consider integrated social network and family-based approaches.
KW - Adherence
KW - Adolescents
KW - HIV
KW - Pre-exposure prophylaxis
KW - Social networks
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85074337233
U2 - 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2019.08.014
DO - 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2019.08.014
M3 - Article
C2 - 31672523
AN - SCOPUS:85074337233
SN - 1054-139X
VL - 66
SP - 268
EP - 274
JO - Journal of Adolescent Health
JF - Journal of Adolescent Health
IS - 3
ER -