CFAR Adelante

Dr. Varga's project is entitled, "Latinos living with HIV in DC: Exploring experiences in engagement and retention in care".This study will use an intersectionality framework to examine how the health outcomes of Latinos living with HIV in Washington, DC are impacted by multiple social-structural factors. Specifically, quantitative and qualitative data will be gathered using the DC Cohort and interviews and focus groups to help understand the multi-layered factors that support or deter engagement in health care and viral suppression among Latinos, with an emphasis on examining the health impacts of how these individuals experience different forms of inequality. DC CFAR Investigator Carlos Rodriguez-Diaz, PhD will serve as a mentor on the project. 

Dr. del Rio Gonzalez's project is entitled, "Factors associated with PrEP intentions and use among Latina immigrant transgender women in the DC metropolitan area". This study will focus on individual and social-structural factors associated with intentions to use and actual use of PrEP among Latina immigrant trans women, ages 18 and older, living in the DC metropolitan area. The specific aims are: (1) To gain a culturally-grounded understanding of individual and social-structural factors associated with PrEP intentions and use among Latina immigrant trans women in DC.; (2) to assess levels of PrEP awareness, intentions and use among Latina immigrant trans women, as well as changes in these levels over a 6-month period, and to examine how individual and social-structural factors are associated with these changes, and (3) to synthesize the qualitative and quantitative results, and assess the validity of the findings.