Not a Monolith: Regional HIV Implementation Science Lessons With Latino/a/x Populations

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Implementation Science
• Health Disparities

Background:

• HIV incidence is rising among Latino/a/x populations in the U.S., especially young gay, bisexual, and sexual minority men.
• Structural and social barriers impede access to HIV prevention (e.g., pre-exposure prophylaxis) and care for Latino/a/x individuals.
• Implementation science is crucial for developing, testing, and scaling interventions tailored to specific populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To share lessons learned from HIV implementation research with diverse Latino/a/x populations in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
• To emphasize the role of structural and social determinants of health in HIV disparities.
• To advocate for community-engaged and culturally tailored approaches in HIV research.

Main Methods:

• Review of implementation research experiences with various Latino/a/x groups.
• Focus on community-engaged research principles.
• Emphasis on culturally tailored intervention strategies.

Main Results:

• Highlighting the significance of structural and social determinants of health.
• Demonstrating the value of community-engaged research in addressing HIV.
• Underscoring the need for culturally tailored interventions for Latino/a/x populations.

Conclusions:

• Implementation science is vital for addressing HIV disparities among Latino/a/x populations.
• Multilevel change driven by implementation research is necessary to end the HIV epidemic.
• Lessons learned can guide researchers and leaders in advancing HIV prevention and care.