Structural Life Instability and Factors Related to Latino Sexual Minority Men’s Intention to Engage with Biomedical HIV-Prevention Services

Abstract

Latino sexual minority men (LSMM) experience high rates of HIV and co-occurring health inequities. Structural and psychosocial factors may lead to mental health problems and decreased engagement with biomedical HIV-prevention behaviors. This cross-sectional study assessed the extent to which structural life instability is related to biomedical HIV-prevention services engagement (HIV-testing and PrEP uptake) indirectly through psychological distress among 290 LSMM living in Greater Miami. Using hybrid structural equation modeling, significant direct effects from structural life instability to psychological distress emerged, as did effects from psychological distress (i.e., depression and anxiety) to HIV-prevention engagement. Structural life instability had a significant indirect effect to HIV-prevention engagement via psychological distress. Findings show a possible mechanism explaining the relationship between structural life instability and biomedical HIV-prevention engagement among a group of LSMM, a subpopulation at increased susceptibility for HIV acquisition in an U.S. HIV epicenter.