The Role of Social Networks, House Ballrooms, and Religion in HIV Prevention for Black Gay and Bisexual Men: A Scoping Review.

In the United States, Black gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (BGBM) continue to face disproportionate burdens of HIV. Contributing factors include unprotected sex with multiple partners, limited awareness of HIV prevention, stigma, racism, and structural barriers to healthcare access. Biomedical prevention strategies such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing HIV transmission. However, social perceptions, stigma, and anticipated discrimination continue to influence uptake and adherence. This scoping review examined literature published between 2017 and 2024 to identify how social networks and social media shape prevention behaviors among BGBM. Guided by Social Network Theory (SNT), the review synthesized findings from 21 studies across four contexts: House Ballroom communities, social media, faith-based settings, and dating apps. Results highlight the role of culturally tailored and community-based interventions, including those delivered in religious settings, in supporting prevention uptake, while digital platforms demonstrated strong potential for outreach, testing, and linkage to care. These findings underscore the need for interventions that integrate biomedical prevention tools with culturally responsive approaches to reduce disparities and improve HIV prevention outcomes for BGBM. Findings provide suggestions for future HIV interventions for BGBM.