Prevention Finding and supporting groups at high risk for HIV is challenging, but researchers are now using tracking technology to reach at-risk individuals and deliver treatment more effectively. According to Dr. Yen-Tyng Chen from Rutgers University, young Black sexually minoritized men (SMM) and transgender women (TW), especially those aged 25-34, face higher HIV risks in the U.S. due to barriers like limited access to healthcare and stigma around HIV prevention.
In a study with over 200 participants, Chen’s team used GPS data to map social venues linked to HIV transmission, focusing on where Black SMM and TW socialize. These locations could help distribute HIV prevention services. The research is part of the ongoing Neighborhoods and Networks Study, which explores the effects of neighborhood and network dynamics on HIV care among Black SMM and TW, especially in Chicago and the southern U.S. The findings were published in Annals of Epidemiology.
