Enhancing HIV Prevention for Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) Under 26 in the United States: An Evidence-Based Intervention Brief

Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) in the United States, particularly those under 26, are disproportionately impacted by HIV. Despite national declines in HIV incidence, nearly two-thirds of new diagnoses among men in 2022 were MSM. Black and Latino YMSM are especially affected, with structural, behavioral, and social factors exacerbating their risk. This intervention brief examines the key determinants of HIV risk in this population, including condomless sex, low adherence to PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), misinformation, stigma, and limited healthcare access. This paper evaluates three existing interventions that address HIV in MSM in the US, and proposes a hyrbid intervention that would be most impactful for this population.