My Steps To Care: Adaptation and Pilot-Testing of STC (Steps To Care) Intervention to Improve HIV Health Outcomes among Black Sexual Minority Men, Black Cisgender Women, and Trans Women Living With HIV in Washington DC
2026-03-19 14:15 - 15:45 (America/New_York) | Studio C
The United States will not meet the targets of the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) plan without an intentional focus on improving HIV outcomes among key populations living with HIV (LWH). Studies have shown that only 54% of Black sexual minority men (SMM) living with HIV are retained in care, 55% maintain daily treatment adherence, and 62% are virally suppressed. In 2021, one-third of Black SMM (out of 5,964), Black cisgender (out of 3,079), and transgender (out of 271) women LWH in Washington DC (a priority EHE jurisdiction) had a detectable viral load (i.e., having more than 200 copies of HIV per milliliter of blood). These viral suppression rates are suboptimal, despite a range of healthcare organizations and services in the region, contributing to the further transmission of HIV in the region and highlighting a major public health failure. The purpose of this study is to address the health inequities among key populations living with HIV through a community-based participatory research (CBPR) mixed-methods study designed to adapt and pilot-test STEPS to Care (StC), a CDC-endorsed evidence-based intervention. This intervention consists of three person-centered, evidence-informed strategies to improve retention in HIV care, adherence to antiretroviral therapies, and reduce viral load, which include: Patient Navigation, Care Team Coordination, and HIV Self-Management.
