Lessons learned from syndemic HIV research in an immigrant, latinx sexual and gender minority community.

The HIV incidence rate in Miami-Dade County is among the highest in the United States, with Latinx sexual and gender minority (SGM) groups experiencing a disproportionate burden. Despite extensive efforts by both private and public sectors to curb transmission and improve pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake, Latinx SGM groups continue to have high rates of HIV and low PrEP uptake compared to SGM groups overall. Using data collected from a biobehavioral study of the socio-structural factors affecting HIV susceptibility and PrEP uptake among Latinx SGM subgroups in Miami-Dade County, this paper shares lessons learned and provides concrete recommendations for tailoring survey research and biospecimen collection among a largely immigrant, socioeconomically disadvantaged community that is especially vulnerable to HIV.