Modeling Drivers of Racial and Ethnic Disparities in HIV Transmission in Marginalized Communities in Chicago

Ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic is a public health priority in Illinois, with the statewide Getting- to-Zero (GTZ) initiative aiming to reach a “functional zero” by 2030. Functional zero means that Illinois will report fewer than 100 new cases of HIV annually, the point where the HIV epidemic no longer sustain itself. Racial and ethnic minorities as well as sexual and gender minorities are disproportionately affected by HIV. More specifically, young Black and Latinx men who have sex with men (YMSM) as well as trans women (TW) are considered especially vulnerable to HIV infection. Given that Black YMSM have been found to engage in similar or even decreased rates of HIV risk behaviors compared to other racial groups, racial disparities within HIV transmission are unexplained by assessing individual-level behavior. This study uses a systems approach along with sexual network data to model interactions between concurrent individual-level risk factors for HIV transmission and the broader social and structural systems that shape them. This study aims to illuminate the drivers of racial and ethnic disparities within HIV infections in Chicago. The project also aims to identify targets for public health interventions that can prevent new HIV infections in these communities.