A social network intervention to improve the sexual health and promote HIV testing among Latino sexual minorities

Issues: Although Latino sexual minorities, including gay and bisexual men, MSM, and transgender women, are disproportionately affected by HIV and STDs, few efficacious HIV prevention interventions exist for these communities.

Description: The HOLA intervention was developed, and is currently being implemented, by a community-based participatory research partnership in North Carolina (NC). The intervention is designed to increase condom use and HIV testing among recently-arrived, non-English-speaking Latino sexual minorities.

The intervention harnesses the natural helping of informal community leaders who are carefully trained and supported to work within their social networks. These leaders (known as Navegantes) serve as: health advisors to provide information and referrals related to HIV/STD prevention, testing, care, and treatment; opinion leaders to bolster positive and reframe negative of cultural norms and expectations of behavior; and advocates to promote support for sexual health.

The HOLA intervention was designed to be culturally congruent and address the realities faced by Latino sexual minorities. Participants explore how being a Spanish-speaking Latino in the southeastern US and a sexual minority within the Latino community impacts behavior.

Lessons Learned: Eleven Navegantes were trained. Process data indicate that one-quarter of Navegante helping activities included condom distribution and 15% included discussing sexual health. Referrals to HIV testing remain low (6%) of all helping activities.

Recommendations: Although the HOLA intervention has been well received by Navegantes and members of their social networks, research is needed to determine whether low referrals to HIV testing is related to immigration policy enforcement and/or the cultural congruence of available resources.