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Despite the availability of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), Latino sexual minority men (LSMM) continue to experience disparities in PrEP uptake and subsequently, HIV vulnerability. Social network norms are an underutilized solution to increase PrEP uptake. We used a peer influence model (network autocorrelation model) to examine the role of social network descriptive norms (i.e., actual behaviors) surrounding PrEP use. A total of 11 sociocentric networks of 13 friends ( n = 143 LSMM) were recruited into our study from 2018 to 2019 in South Florida. Most participants were in PrEP pre-contemplation ( n = 44), and almost one-third of our sample were using PrEP ( n = 38). Three network autocorrelation models were estimated using an empirically informed Bayesian analysis. We found a positive association between participants' Motivational PrEP Cascade (MPC) position and their network members' (friends') cascade position based on three different measures of connection even when accounting for PrEP knowledge: friendship ( ρ = 0.22; 95% CI a = 0.01-0.42), emotional closeness ( ρ = 0.24; 95% CI = 0.03-0.44), and frequency of interaction ( ρ = 0.22; CI = 0.03-0.42). Our findings highlight that an individual's progress in the MPC may be influenced by their network members' progress in the MPC, suggesting that LSMM using PrEP may serve as role models to their peers for PrEP use due to descriptive norms. Our findings further suggest that PrEP interventions for LSMM along the MPC can be implemented at the social network level.

Disparities in Latinx sexual minority men (LSMM) pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) initiation and adherence demonstrate the need for innovative strategies to improve outcomes along the PrEP Care Continuum. The purpose of this study was to examine physical and virtual risk venue co-attendance among LSMM of varying stages of PrEP use living in South Florida, an Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) priority jurisdiction. Venue co-attendance may be leveraged to support equitable dissemination and implementation (D&I) of HIV and drug use preventive interventions to LSMM. Ninety-four LSMM completed surveys on PrEP use and identified physical and virtual sexual and drug risk venues (where men seek sex partners and/or have sex or access or use drugs). Bivariate analyses examined differences in demographics and venue endorsement by PrEP status. Exponential random graph models examined endorsement of venues by PrEP status. One-mode projection visualizations portray the structure of venue co-attendance networks by PrEP status. Participants identified 49 physical and virtual sexual and drug risk venues. A homophily effect of PrEP status on venue endorsement was identified for both sexual and drug risk venues. Network size and density differed by PrEP status and whether the venue was identified as a sexual or drug risk location. Online dating apps, bars, and saunas had the highest centrality in each network type suggesting their potential role in implementing preventive programming. This study identified specific sexual and drug risk venues that may be leveraged to both disseminate targeted PrEP and harm reduction information and to implement interventions to improve PrEP uptake and adherence among LSMM living in EHE priority jurisdictions., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: US Latino men who have sex with men (LMSM) are a group at highest risk for HIV. One driver of HIV among LMSM is inadequate access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) information. The social network theory of homophily suggests that sharing similar sociodemographic factors could influence PrEP conversations within networks. This study aimed to determine how the effects of homophily across sociodemographic, immigration, cultural, and PrEP-related factors are associated with PrEP-related communication., Setting: This study was conducted in Miami-Dade County, FL., Methods: Data collected between August 2018 and October 2019 included 10 sociocentric friendship groups of 13 LMSM (N = 130). Participants were recruited using respondent-driven sampling by a community-based organization in Miami. We used the multiple regression quadratic assignment procedure to identify the effects of homophily and relationship characteristics on PrEP-related conversations using R software., Results: More frequent PrEP-related conversations were associated with dyadic friendships characterized by homophily on knowledge of PrEP effectiveness, heterophily on depressive symptom severity, home addresses proximity, friend closeness, and interaction frequency. Past PrEP-related conversation frequency also increased based on heterophily on the Latino cultural value of familism (ie, emotional support to family). Racial homophily, heterophily on severity of depressive symptoms, home addresses proximity, friendship closeness, and frequency of interactions increased likelihood to encourage a friend to use PrEP., Discussion: Social and spatial closeness and homophily play a role in PrEP-related conversations. Information from social networks contextualized in geographic settings can be elucidated to contribute toward the design of novel opportunities to end HIV., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)