Culturally Sensitive Intervention to Improve Retention in HIV Care for Latino MSM

While early receipt of and adherence to antiretroviral therapy are critical for effective
HIV treatment, engagement with and retention in HIV care are essential first steps.
Retention in HIV care is particularly important for traditionally disadvantaged groups, such
as Latino MSMs, who are over-represented in the HIV epidemic. HIV+ Latino MSM therefore
urgently need interventions to improve their retention in HIV care, which may be affected by
a number of culture-specific factors. The goal of this proposal is to culturally adapt and
tailor an existing, theory-based intervention, using state-of-the-art methods designed to
maximize cultural sensitivity, feasibility and acceptability to HIV+ Latino MSM, and to test
it in a small randomized controlled trial (n=60 intervention; n=60 control). The study will
be conducted among insufficiently retained HIV+ Latino MSM at AltaMed, the largest provider
of HIV medical services for Latinos in Los Angeles. The proposed intervention is designed to
retain participants in HIV care by addressing barriers to and facilitators of HIV care
salient to Latinos, using group-based as well as one-on-one, peer-based learning approaches.

Inclusion Criteria include: 1) being HIV+; 2) > 18 years old; 3) male; 4) fluent in
Spanish; 5) self-identify as having Latino or Hispanic ethnicity; 6) Self-identify as gay
or as ever having sex with men; 7) Must have scheduled visit with AltaMed in the prior 12
months and have a) fewer than one visit in the prior four months or b) detectable viral
load

Exclusion Criteria include 1) not having a scheduled visit with AltaMed in the prior 12
months and having a) more than one visit in the prior four months or b) undetectable viral
load; 2) being unable to give informed consent; 3) Lack of Spanish language skills