271076 Female condom use among African American MSM in Mississippi

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Dantrell Simmons, MA , Center for Research, Evaluation, Environmental and Policy Change, My Brother's Keeper, Inc., Jackson, MS
Gerald Gibson, MA , Center for Research, Evaluation, Environmental and Policy Change, My Brother's Keeper, Inc., Jackson, MS
June Gipson, PhD, EdS , Center for Community-Based Programs, My Brother's Keeper, Inc., Ridgeland, MS
DeMarc Hickson, PhD, MPH , Center for Research, Evaluation, Environmental and Policy Change, My Brother's Keeper, Inc., Jackson, MS
Sexual risk taking among YMSM(Young Men who have sex with Men) is common and can result in unintended health outcomes such as HIV and STDs. In Mississippi, teens and young adults between the ages of 15-29 years remain the leader in new cases of Chlamydia and Gonorrhea infections and account for 26% of all new HIV cases. From 2011-2012, self-reported responses were assessed from African American MSM who were enrolled in the D-Up! intervention. Chi-square tests were used to determine if there was an association between willingness to use female condoms and high risk behaviors. A total of 67 AA MSM (age: 18-30) residing in Jackson, MS participated in 6 waves of the D-Up! intervention. Approximately 20% of the participants reported ever using a female condom. Of those who reported ever using female condoms, 20% reported being in a monogamous relationship. In addition, of those who reported being in a monogamous relationship, 7% reported a willingness to use female condoms. Compared to those who were willing to use female condoms, those who indicated an unwillingness reported more HIV positive partners, but had higher knowledge that having an STD increases the chances of contracting HIV or giving it their partner. Upon the completion of the intervention, there was approximately a 10% increase in the willingness to use female condoms among the participants. Given the growing incidence of HIV/STDs among adolescents and young adults, prevention programs should consider addressing alternative methods of protection against HIV/STDs.

Learning Areas:
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
To assess the knowledge of HIV/STD risk behaviors among African American MSM ages 18-29 who attended D-Up! intervention as measured by pre and post test assessments.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am currently a doctoral student in the field of epidemiology as well as a full-time Research Associate with My Brother's Keeper, Inc. I also hold a M.A. degree in Clinical Psychology with experience of providing group and individual therapy for individuals affected by HIV/AIDS. Previous work includes assessing the effectiveness of a CDC HIV effective intervention.
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.