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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Lee M. Kochems, MA, CATC¹, Dennis Fisher, PhD², Jose Luis O. Guzman³, Jon P. Mechling, AA², Vincent J. Del Casino, PhD⁴, and Grace L. Reynolds, DPA². (1) Center for Behavioral Research and Services, California State University, Long Beach, 1090 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90813, 562-495-2330 x147, LMKanthroconsult@aol.com, (2) Center for Behavioral Research and Services, California State University Long Beach, 1090 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90813, (3) Center for Behavioral Researchand Services, California State University, Long Beach, 1090 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90813, (4) Departments of Geography and Liberal Studies, California State University, Long Beach, 1090 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90813

Background: There has been a plethora of HIV risk-reduction interventions targeting Gay men and other men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM). This targeted population's familiarity with HIV issues and related information challenges health educators to tailor interventions to more individualized needs of members of the Gay community. Objective: We present GAY RESPECT, a modified, effective evidence-based model intervention (from RESPECT and RESPECT II) for a hard-to-recruit Gay male population already highly exposed to HIV disease-prevention messages designed to: (1)recruit a reluctant population already highly exposed to HIV education messages; (2)describe the target population's risk; and (3)reduce HIV associated risk. Methods: Program materials and marketing emphasized Gay cultural content over HIV. Recruitment was through ethnographically driven outreach including targeted HIV counseling and testing (HCT) supplementing strategies. Outreach encounters included risk assessments and education. Participants volunteered for a three-part intervention (individual one-on-one counseling sessions) with two one-month follow-ups. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected. Findings: 983 outreach encounters were completed. Recruitment resulted in 125 participants in the individual-level intervention for 2005. (2005: Mean age 41; Black 20.8%, White 46.4%, Latino 21.6%, Asian 6.0%, AI/AN 2.4%, Other 2.4%). Sixty were retained for at least three counseling sessions. We will present cumulative 2005 and 2006 data. Qualitative data analyses indexed target population risk behaviors and associated achievable risk-reduction responses/actions. Conclusions: 1.Ethnographically driven outreach successfully targeted and enrolled a hard-to-recruit population, members of which generally considered themselves well -informed. 2.Project elicited indices of risk behaviors. 3.Counseling assisted participants in implementing and maintaining risk-reduction strategies. 4.The intervention is easily replicable.

Learning Objectives:

• Audience members will learn Gay Respect recruitment, content and evaluation basics of this replicable, evidence based, HIV risk-reduction intervention for use with Gay and other MSM who consider themselves well informed about HIV Disease and related risk.

Keywords: Gay Men, HIV Interventions

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered