# A mixed methods study of syndemic factors associated with social support and viral suppression among Black men who have sex with men (MSM) in Florida".

> **NIH NIH K01** · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · 2024 · $179,644

## Abstract

Project Abstract
Black men who have sex with men (MSM) in the South had the highest rate of new HIV diagnoses (48%) and
the 2nd highest rate of HIV prevalence (31%) among MSM of all races in 2018. Furthermore, racial disparities
exist in terms of viral suppression, with 52% of Black MSM living with HIV achieving viral suppression compared
to 61% of White MSM. An extensive body of research has identified multiple co-occurring psychosocial factors
and structural factors that contribute to racial disparities in HIV diagnoses, prevalence, and outcomes among
Black MSM. This combination constitutes a syndemic, “the interaction of 2+ factors or health conditions” that
increase HIV among Black MSM. At the same time, mounting evidence suggests social support as an effect
modifier of viral suppression among Black MSM experiencing a syndemic. To date, no study has sought to
identify the subgroups of Black MSM living with HIV in Florida who could benefit from a shared biobehavioral
HIV intervention to improve social support and viral suppression based on their shared characteristics. Therefore,
the overarching goal of the K01 award is to provide me with the resources, training, mentoring and knowledge
needed to examine the intersectionality of public health, substance use and HIV, and syndemic research. In this
proposal, I will employ the explanatory sequential mixed method design to accomplish the specific aims which
include: 1a) application of latent class analyses (LCA) for the identification of heterogeneous syndemic classes
among Black MSM living with HIV; 1b) expansion of existing literature to examine the association between
syndemic classes and demographics; 2) validation of syndemic classes on scales assessing social support; 3)
exploration of syndemic class group differences on measures of baseline level and one-year change in viral
suppression; and 4) application of semi-structured interviews to validate and contextualize quantitative findings.
These goals will be accomplished by leveraging existing data, participants, and resources from an ongoing
NIAAA-funded observational longitudinal study (U24AA022002) and interviewing a sample of 20 Black MSM
living with HIV in Florida. This K01 application will build on my expertise in HIV outreach, public health, qualitative
research, and clinical intervention research related to substance use and HIV with advanced training in: applying
a syndemic framework to Black MSM, using LCA to model syndemic conditions among Black MSM, recruiting
Black MSM into biobehavioral HIV research, identifying effective biobehavioral HIV interventions and strategies
to improve social support and viral suppression among this population, and responsible conduct of research.
Overseeing this training are a diverse and interdisciplinary team of mentors, each of whom will bring unique
areas of expertise and years of collaboration: Drs. Robert Cook and Eric Schrimshaw (co-primary mentors) and
Drs. Typhanye Dyer, Mattia Prosperi, Mic...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10843108
- **Project number:** 5K01DA057881-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
- **Principal Investigator:** Shantrel S Canidate
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $179,644
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-06-01 → 2028-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10843108

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10843108, A mixed methods study of syndemic factors associated with social support and viral suppression among Black men who have sex with men (MSM) in Florida". (5K01DA057881-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10843108. Licensed CC0.

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