266965 HIV risk outcomes of a community-level intervention for young MSM who report episodic use of alcohol and drugs

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Jennifer L. Lauby, PhD , Research & Evaluation, Public Health Management Corporation, Philadelphia, PA
Heather Batson , Research & Evaluation, Public Health Management Corporation, Philadelphia, PA
Lisa Bond, PhD , Research & Evaluation, Public Health Management Corporation, Philadelphia, PA
Lee Carson, MSW, CASAC , Research & Evaluation, Public Health Management Corporation, Philadelphia, PA
Mary Milnamow, MSS , Research & Evaluation, Public Health Management Corporation, Philadelphia, PA
Yeamah Logan , Research & Evaluation, Public Health Management Corporation, Philadelphia, PA
Background: Few HIV prevention interventions address the impact of episodic substance use on sexual behaviors that put young MSM (YMSM) at risk for HIV.

Methods: We developed and evaluated a community-level intervention for black and white YMSM ages 15 to 29. Using a holistic approach, we created and distributed role model stories which discussed substance use and sexual risk behaviors, as well as other life stressors and supports. Stories were distributed online and by peer outreach. To evaluate outcomes, four annual interviews were conducted with a panel of 281 YMSM in Philadelphia, the intervention community, and 178 YMSM in Baltimore, the comparison community. All participants used alcohol or drugs at baseline. Outcome measures included an anal sex risk scale, taking into account number of instances of protected and unprotected insertive and receptive sex.

Results: Rates of binge drinking decreased over time in both samples, while rates of drug use remained high. Repeated measures ANOVA indicated significant differences in change over time by city for the anal sex risk score (p<.01). Over time, scores decreased more for YMSM in Philadelphia than those in Baltimore. In both cities, white YMSM reported higher risk than black YMSM. YMSM who reported reading the project's role model stories had decreased anal sex risk compared to those in the intervention community who did not read the stories.

Conclusions: This community-level intervention was able to demonstrate reductions in sexual risk behaviors. However, three years of implementation were necessary before significant changes were detected.

Learning Areas:
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Evaluate the effectiveness of a community-level intervention on reducing HIV risk behaviors. Assess outcomes for MSM with different levels of exposure to the intervention.

Keywords: HIV Interventions, Gay Men

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the Principal Investigator on several federally-funded research projects focused on HIV prevention interventions. Four of these projects focused on the prevention needs of MSM.
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: 5013.0: HIV/AIDS Interventions: Sharing Lessons Learned from the Field