# Latinx MSM PrEP Disparities due to Immigration Stress and Drug Use Networks

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · 2020 · $45,520

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Background: Miami-Dade County, FL (MDC) has the highest HIV incidence in the US. As of June 2017, 61%
of new HIV diagnoses in MDC were attributed to Latinxs; and sexual contact with men who have sex with men
(MSM) accounted for 92% of new HIV diagnoses among Latinx men. Of Latinxs diagnosed with HIV in 2017 in
MDC, 85% were foreign-born. Alarmingly, new HIV diagnosis have increased 64% among Latinx MSM in MDC
since 2010. While rates of PrEP usage in the US have significantly increased, only 6% of Latinx MSM were
enrolled in a PrEP program in MDC. The Social Network Theory of Homophily can explain why these disparities
impact LMSM communities so aggressively: similarities in characteristics between LMSM friendship dyads can
impact the configuration of social networks. In turn, these network configurations can affect LMSM access to
PrEP information, communication, and providers. The overarching goal of this F31 training program will be to
study the effect of dyadic homophily (based on country of origin, immigration stress, Latinx cultural values, and
substance use) on PrEP information within LMSM friendship networks and geographic accessibility to providers.
The purpose of F31 training program is to sharpen my research skills and to provide the experiences for a career
as an independent scientist well-qualified to obtain a postdoctoral position at a major research university. To
pursue this F31 fellowship, I am supported by a strong team of Sponsors and a Senior Advisory Committee who
will provide training in: 1) clinical research targeting the intertwining epidemics of HIV and substance use among
MSM; 2) social network analysis to address Latinx health disparities; 3) comprehensive client-centered and
culturally responsive LMSM PrEP services; and 4) geospatial analysis using GIS. Research component: I will
conduct secondary data analyses using Dr. Mariano Kanamori’s (F31 Co-Primary Sponsor) project, PrEParados,
with data specifically collected for this F31 application (N=156 LMSM grouped into 12 friendship networks). Aim
1 will determine whether homophily—based on country of origin, immigration stress, Latinx cultural values, and
substance use—between dyads is associated with PrEP knowledge and communication within LMSM friendship
networks. Aim 2 will determine whether the density due to homophily on LMSM dyads’ immigration stress, Latinx
cultural values, and substance use is associated with geographic accessibility (walking, public transportation,
and driving; times and distances) to available clinical PrEP services. The central hypotheses are that 1) there is
an association between homophily on country of origin, immigration stress, Latinx cultural values, and substance
use, and the configuration of social LMSM social networks, and 2) this social network configuration is associated
with access to PrEP information within networks and geographic accessibility to PrEP providers. Significance:
Findings of this F31 study will...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10161304
- **Project number:** 1F31MD015988-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Cho-Hee Shrader
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $45,520
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-26 → 2021-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10161304

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10161304, Latinx MSM PrEP Disparities due to Immigration Stress and Drug Use Networks (1F31MD015988-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10161304. Licensed CC0.

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