Retention and engagement through fitness in HIV prevention/care for YMSM of color

Issues: Initiatives that promote retention in prevention and/or care interventions for priority populations, such as young men who have sex with men (YMSM) of color, are vital to decreasing community viral load in cities that are disproportionately affected by HIV. Despite having a plethora of prevention and care services, retention in these interventions remains to be a formidable barrier for the Philadelphia metropolitan area, particularly for YMSM of color.  The inability to remain in care and prevention interventions renders the larger community of YMSM vulnerable to HIV infection and to negative health outcomes.

Description: The I AM…The Generation project is men’s health initiative that takes components of HIV prevention curriculum and frames the experience as a run club in preparation for local marathons.  This project targets YMSM under the age of 30 who are living with HIV or enrolled in the PrEP project at a community based organization.

Lessons learned:  This strategy has increased performance measures of retention and recruitment for funded interventions. 

Recommendations:  Implementing programs that are culturally competent and socially appealing in HIV community based service organizations and HIV ambulatory care sites can prove to be a cost effective strategy for initial linkage and retention in care for hard to reach populations.   Programming such as this is highly beneficial to consumers because it provides a positive social group for participation, affirmation of sexual identity and health status, and provides a physical intervention for other chronic conditions that participants may be vulnerable to (cardio vascular disease, obesity, hypertension).