Oral

In 2007, the Centers for Disease Control published a funding opportunities announcement (FOA) to collect formative data on the cultural context of HIV/AIDS risk behaviors among heterosexually active African American males and support awardees to develop/evaluate sexual risk-reduction interventions for the population. African Americans (AAs) comprise 12% of the US population but account for nearly 50% of the new HIV/AIDS cases. In 2004, nearly one-third of reported HIV/AIDS cases in this population were attributed to heterosexual contact. Surveillance data indicate that the cumulative number of HIV (not AIDS) cases acquired through heterosexual contact among AA men is nearly 5 times that of their white counterparts1. The funded research was focused on heterosexually active AA men who put themselves and their female partners at risk of acquiring or transmitting STDs and HIV. The purpose of this FOA was to address gaps in HIV risk-reduction interventions targeting heterosexually high-risk African American men. Three sites were funded: State University of New York-Downstate (SUNY), New York Blood Center (NYBC), and University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). Each site developed a unique approach to recruiting the target population: barbershops (SUNY); street intercepts (NYBC); and college campus via online recruitment (UNCG). Each site will present formative data from brief risk assessments, focus groups, and in-depth individual interviews. The findings were used to develop three unique interventions targeting heterosexually high-risk African American men.

Session Objectives: Discuss findings from formative data analysis on the cultural context of HIV/AIDS risk behaviors among heterosexually active African American males. Describe the development of sexual risk-reduction interventions for the population and evaluation plans.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH) , Masters Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES)