# Influence of patient-centered HIV care on retention and viral suppression disparities

> **NIH NIH R01** · FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $301,851

## Abstract

Abstract
People with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at increased risk of COVID-19 complications due to
underlying immunosuppression and comorbidities and thus can significantly benefit from COVID-19
vaccination. People with HIV (PWH) are also more likely to belong to racial/ethnic minorities that have been
disproportionately burdened by the COVID-19 pandemic and are currently underrepresented among
vaccinated individuals. The objective of this study is to identify points of intervention to increase COVID-19
vaccine uptake among African American, Hispanic, and Haitian PWH. To achieve this objective, we will
conduct a mixed methods study involving a sample of 129 Hispanics, 116 African Americans and 53 Haitians
with HIV who were previously interviewed from October 2020 to January 2021 about the effect of the COVID-
19 pandemic on their health and wellbeing and their HIV care (Wave 1). The current supplement (Wave 2) will
extend the previous study by determining COVID-19 vaccine uptake and factors associated with vaccine
uptake. The survey questions will collect quantitative data about factors associated with vaccination using both
the Health Belief Model (e.g., perceived susceptibility to COVID-19, perceived severity of COVID-19, perceived
barriers and benefits of COVID-19 vaccination, and cues to action) and the Social Ecological Model (i.e.,
potential intrapersonal, interpersonal, and community/institutional-level factors associated with COVID-19
vaccine uptake). Data from the survey will also be used to identify the extent to which COVID-19 vaccination
improves psychosocial (e.g., COVID-19 related worry) and socioeconomic (e.g., reduced income) stressors.
Furthermore, we will conduct exploratory analyses to assess the association between vaccination and
retention in HIV care and viral suppression. Subsequently, we will ask a sample of vaccinated and
unvaccinated survey respondents to participate in semi-structured in-depth interviews to clarify quantitative
findings and identify points of intervention. Findings from this study will guide vaccination promotion messages
for racial/ethnic minorities with HIV, guide vaccination delivery methods (e.g., vaccination in HIV care settings),
and elucidate the potential role of COVID-19 vaccination in improving the health and wellbeing of people with
HIV.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10497902
- **Project number:** 3R01MD012421-04S1
- **Recipient organization:** FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** MARY JO TREPKA
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $301,851
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-01-29 → 2023-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10497902

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10497902, Influence of patient-centered HIV care on retention and viral suppression disparities (3R01MD012421-04S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-11 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10497902. Licensed CC0.

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