An Evaluation of a CDC-funded HIV Prevention Behavioral Intervention Designed for Black Men Who Have Sex with Men: Results From the Community-based Organization Behavioral Outcomes Project (CBOP-3MV)

Young men of color who have sex with men (YMCSM) represent the group most impacted by HIV in the US. Between 2006-2009, new HIV infections increased by 34% among young MSM and by 48% among young, black MSM. In 2006, CDC funded community-based organizations (CBOs) to deliver Many Men, Many Voices (3MV) to YMCSM. Although 3MV, a group-level intervention designed to reduce HIV risk behaviors of black MSM, has been shown effectiveness when delivered in a controlled research environment, there is no evidence of its effectiveness in real-world settings.

In 2008, CDC funded 3 CBOs to conduct outcome monitoring of 3MV to determine if YMCSM who participate report changes in risk behaviors post- intervention. Using a repeated measures design, risk behaviors were collected at baseline, and again at 3 and 6 months post-intervention. Changes in risk behaviors were assessed using generalized estimating equations.

Participants (n=339) reported reduced prevalence of risk behaviors. For example, the proportion of participants that reported at least one unprotected sex event significantly decreased comparing 3-month (OR=0.38, 95% CI: 0.27, 0.52), and 6-month follow-up (OR=0.44, 95% CI: 0.32, 0.61) to baseline. Differences in reductions by race/ethnicity and age groups were not observed.

3MV, when delivered in a real-world setting, can be associated with reduction in risk behaviors that are sustained through 6 months post-intervention Results suggest that 3MV is an effective tool for reducing HIV risk behaviors in this critical target population.