218679 Examining Strategies for Identifying and Testing At-Risk African American (AA) Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) Who Are Unaware of Their HIV Status - “The African American MSM Testing Project”

Monday, November 8, 2010 : 9:15 AM - 9:30 AM

Donna H. McCree, PhD, MPH, RPh , National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Greg Millett, MPH , National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Chanza Baytop, MPH, DrPH , Abt Associates, Inc., Bethesda, MD
Melanie Thompson, MD , AIDS Research Consortium of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
Jonathan Ellen, MD , Division of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Sandra Kupprat, BA, MS, MA , New York University, Center for Health, Identity, Behavior and Prevention Studies (CHIBPS), New York, NY
     
Issues: Men who have sex with men (MSM) represent almost half of the greater than one million people living with HIV in the US. African American MSM are the most disproportionately impacted subgroup. Improving knowledge of HIV status by increasing HIV testing in areas and among populations with the highest rates of HIV is an important HIV intervention strategy. This presentation highlights lessons learned from a research-focused evaluation project on HIV-testing strategies targeting AA MSM. Description: This four-site, three-year study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness and costs of alternate venue testing (AVT), social networks (SN), and partner counseling and referral services (PCRS) for reaching undiagnosed 18-64 year old AA MSM to be tested for HIV and linked to medical and prevention services. Sites were three community-based organizations (CBOs) in the District of Columbia, Atlanta, and New York and a health department in Baltimore City. Each site had existing AVT programs and integrated the SN strategy into their existing programs. Since June 2008, a total of 1,623 men have been tested and 124 new HIV-positive cases identified. Lessons Learned: Successful implementation of the SN strategy requires a detailed plan, staff training, support from the testing agency, and input from the target population. CBOs that specifically targeted AA MSM were more successful at reaching/motivating men to be tested. Recommendations: A combination of multiple testing strategies, e.g., SN and AVT, targeted toward individuals at highest risk and tailored specifically by the agency may be the most effective for reaching AA MSM.

Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Program planning
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to: (1) Describe use of the social network strategy in HIV testing and (2) Explain methods for integrating the social network strategy into existing HIV testing programs targeting African American men who have sex with men.

Keywords: African American, Gay Men

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I am a Team Leader, Behavioral Scientist, and Project Officer. In these capacities, I manage scientists and oversee HIV behavioral intervention studies and research evaluation projects including programs related to HIV testing.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3039.0: Innovations in HIV Testing