# The Effect of Intersecting Stigmas on PrEP Outcomes for Young Black MSM

> **NIH NIH K01** · MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN · 2020 · $119,928

## Abstract

Abstract
Despite recent progress, Black Americans continue to bear the most severe burden of HIV/AIDS in the nation,
and young Black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) continue to be most affected. Antiretroviral pre-
exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been endorsed as a potentially effective part of HIV combination prevention
strategies and an opportunity to reduce new infections among YBMSM. However, without significant efforts to
develop age and culturally-tailored PrEP interventions for YBMSM, PrEP use may only be accessible and
utilized by older, White, more affluent MSM, further exacerbating HIV disparities. Through the framework of
intersectionality, the proposed research examines how various, intersectional stigmas may limit YBMSM’s
ability and willingness to use PrEP. Various stigmas experienced by Black MSM (homonegativity, racism) are
associated with adverse outcomes along the HIV care continuum and there is reason to believe these stigmas
may also negatively affect PrEP outcomes. The proposed study aims to address the current lack of research
on YBMSM’s barriers to using PrEP and gather the data necessary to inform a tailored intervention for
YBMSM. The study will take place in Milwaukee, WI. In phase I, we will conduct 9 focus groups (n=72-90) with
YBMSM ages 16-25 to explore YBMSM’s knowledge and perceptions of PrEP, identify individual, community
and structural level factors likely to affect PrEP uptake among YBMSM, and examine YBMSM’s general
healthcare utilization patterns and barriers. Additionally, we will employ a quantitative study to examine the
relationship between various stigmas (racism, medical mistrust, homonegativity) and examine the effects of
intersecting stigmas on knowledge and acceptance of PrEP among 300 YBMSM. We hypothesize that racism,
homonegativity, and the intersection of those stigmas will predict lower knowledge of PrEP, reduced likelihood
of using PrEP, and greater PrEP stigma. We also hypothesize that the relationships between various stigmas
and PrEP outcomes will be moderated by resiliency and social support. In Phase II, we will use findings from
Phase I and community-based participatory research methods to develop an evidence-based multi-level
intervention tailored to YBMSM to be tested in a future R34. Findings from this study may not only be useful in
increasing PrEP use among YBMSM, but may also be generalized to other outcomes along the care
continuum. The training plan in this Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01) application will
provide the training and research experience necessary to support Dr. Katherine Quinn’s transition to an
independent HIV prevention and intervention researcher. Training includes four primary goals: build content
expertise in intersectional stigma, develop mastery of complex statistical modeling for intersectionality and
mixed-methods research, build expertise in intervention science, and enhance career and professional
development. The training acquired by ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9939697
- **Project number:** 5K01MH112412-04
- **Recipient organization:** MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN
- **Principal Investigator:** Katherine G Quinn
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $119,928
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-07-19 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9939697

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9939697, The Effect of Intersecting Stigmas on PrEP Outcomes for Young Black MSM (5K01MH112412-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9939697. Licensed CC0.

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