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Interventions to Reduce Alcohol Use and HIV Risk among Sexual and Gender Minority Populations: a Systematic Review

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals are diagnosed with HIV at disproportionate rates, and hazardous alcohol use can increase their HIV risk. This review assessed the state of the literature examining interventions for addressing alcohol use and sexual HIV risk behaviors among SGM individuals.

Recent Findings

Fourteen manuscripts from 2012 to 2022 tested interventions that address both alcohol use and HIV risk behaviors among SGM populations, with only 7 randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Virtually all the interventions targeted men who have sex with men, with none focused on transgender populations or cisgender women. While they demonstrated some evidence of effectiveness in reducing alcohol use and/or sexual risk, the outcomes varied widely between studies.

Summary

More research is needed that tests interventions in this area, particularly for transgender individuals. The use of larger-scale RCTs with diverse populations and standardized outcome measures are needed to strengthen the evidence base.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: •• Of major importance

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Funding

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health under Award Numbers R01AA030487 (PIs: Lauckner, Kershaw) and K01AA025305 (PI: Lauckner). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

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  1. Center for Health Equity Transformation, University of Kentucky, 465 Healthy Kentucky Research Bldg, 760 Press Ave., Lexington, KY, 40536, USA

    Carolyn Lauckner, Kimberly Haney & Fidelis Sesenu

  2. Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA

    Trace Kershaw

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  1. Carolyn Lauckner
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Correspondence to Carolyn Lauckner.

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Carolyn Lauckner, Kimberly Haney, Fidelis Sesenu, and Trace Kershaw declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Lauckner, C., Haney, K., Sesenu, F. et al. Interventions to Reduce Alcohol Use and HIV Risk among Sexual and Gender Minority Populations: a Systematic Review. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 20, 231–250 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11904-023-00660-2

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