Despite a high prevalence of HIV among gender minority women, very little is known about HIV comorbid conditions in this population. Understanding the mechanisms of underlying HIV-related comorbidities in this health disparity population is an important step toward advancing health equity. The address this gap in knowledge, the study seeks to elucidate pathways linking stigma and physiologic stress to HIV comorbidities among Black and Latina gender minority women.
The specific aims of the project include to: (1) quantify the longitudinal relationship of stigma to chronic stress biomarkers; (2) identify pathways linking chronic stress biomarkers to HIV comorbidities; and (3) examine the role of chronic stress in pathways linking stigma, sex hormones, and HIV comorbidities.
These aims will be met using existing NIH-funded cohort platforms to enroll and follow 200 participants in a 24-month, mixed-methods, prospective study to measure stigma, biomarkers of chronic stress, sex hormones, mental health, and CVD risk. Data will be collected at baseline, 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-months. This longitudinal study blends in-depth-interviews and quantitative psychosocial research with clinical and biological measures to advance understanding of the complex relationships between social experiences and physical health. This innovative research will identify mechanisms underlying associations between stigma and HIV comorbidities. It has important implications for interventions with health disparity populations living with HIV and will provide novel information that can be used to guide clinical practice and reduce health disparities.

Public Health Relevance

/Public Health Relevance A disproportionate number of gender minority women are living with HIV in the United States, yet information about mechanisms of disparities for their HIV-related comorbidities is quite limited. This research takes a step toward filling this gap by building on the existing infrastructure of current NIH-funded prospective cohorts. The goal of this study is to investigate the pathways linking stigma and physiologic stress to HIV comorbidities among Black and Latina gender minority women.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MD013498-03
Application #
9765399
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZMD1)
Program Officer
Das, Rina
Project Start
2018-09-01
Project End
2023-03-31
Budget Start
2019-04-01
Budget End
2020-03-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2019
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Department
Other Health Professions
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
608195277
City
Chapel Hill
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27599