Publications (11) View all
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Article: Having supportive social relationships is associated with reduced risk of unrecognized HIV infection among black and Latino men who have sex with men.
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ABSTRACT: We examined the hypothesis that black and Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) who have supportive social relationships with other people are less likely to have unrecognized HIV infection compared with MSM of color who report lower levels of social support. We interviewed 1286 black and Latino MSM without known HIV infection in three metropolitan areas who were recruited using respondent driven sampling. Participants completed a computer-administered questionnaire and were tested for HIV. Unrecognized HIV infection was found in 118 men (9.2%). MSM who scored higher on the supportive relationship index had significantly lower odds of testing HIV-positive in the study. The mediation analysis identified two possible behavioral pathways that may partially explain this association: men who had strong supportive relationships were more likely to have had a test for HIV infection in the past 2 years and less likely to have recently engaged in high-risk sexual behavior. The findings illuminate the protective role of social relationships among MSM of color in our sample.AIDS and Behavior 07/2011; 16(3):508-15. · 3.49 Impact Factor -
Article: Preventing AIDS through live movement and sound: Efficacy of a theater-based HIV prevention intervention delivered to high-risk male adolescents in juvenile justice settings.
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ABSTRACT: Male adolescents who cycle through the juvenile justice system are at high risk for HIV infection, yet there are few HIV prevention interventions for this high-risk population. This study evaluates the efficacy of Preventing AIDS through Live Movement and Sound (PALMS), an innovative, theory-based HIV risk reduction intervention that uses theatrical performances and role-play. The study used a nonrandomized concurrent comparison group design. A total of 289 predominantly African American males aged 12-18 from two juvenile justice facilities in Philadelphia, PA were enrolled. At 6-month follow-up, PALMS participants demonstrated greater increases in HIV and condom use knowledge and improved attitudes toward HIV testing and toward persons living with HIV/AIDS than did those in the comparison condition. PALMS participants were also significantly more likely to use a condom during their last sexual contact with a non-main female partner than comparison participants. This theater-based HIV prevention intervention is a potential resource for changing knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of adolescents in juvenile justice settings.AIDS education and prevention: official publication of the International Society for AIDS Education 10/2010; 22(5):402-16. · 1.51 Impact Factor -
Article: Strategies used by community-based organizations to evaluate their locally developed HIV prevention interventions: Lessons learned from the CDC's innovative interventions project.
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ABSTRACT: Community-based organizations (CBOs) play an important role in health promotion efforts and the delivery of HIV prevention interventions for at-risk minority populations. CBOs may also develop their own interventions but often lack the capacity or funds to rigorously evaluate them. The Innovative Interventions project of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funded three CBOs to rigorously evaluate the efficacy of interventions they had developed and were delivering to Black women, Black men who have sex with men (MSM), and adolescent males in juvenile justice settings, respectively. The evaluation results have been reported elsewhere. This article describes operational issues that the CBOs identified as being particularly salient to their evaluations and the strategies they developed to address the issues and successfully complete their evaluations. These issues included the development of organizational capacity to conduct a rigorous outcome evaluation, difficulties with recruitment and retention of evaluation participants, and the use of process monitoring data to improve intervention delivery. The strategies described in this article can be used by CBOs when evaluating their locally developed HIV prevention interventions and may be of interest to funding agencies and researchers that collaborate with CBOs to evaluate their interventions.AIDS education and prevention: official publication of the International Society for AIDS Education 10/2010; 22(5):387-401. · 1.51 Impact Factor -
Article: Effects of drug use on sexual risk behavior: results of an HIV outreach and education program.
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ABSTRACT: We evaluated the effects on drug use and sexual risk of an HIV intervention for out-of-treatment drug users, and assessed the effect of drug use on unprotected sex with main and non-main partners. The intervention significantly reduced unprotected sex with a main partner, but did not affect drug use or unprotected sex with non-main partners. Participants who stopped using drugs by follow-up were less likely to have unprotected sex with both main and other partners.Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work 01/2010; 7(1):88-102. -
Article: Where MSM have their first HIV test: differences by race, income, and sexual identity.
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ABSTRACT: To inform initiatives to increase HIV testing in nontraditional locations, this study examined locations where men who have sex with men (MSM) get their first HIV test and identified population segments with different test location patterns. Interviews were conducted with 451 MSM systematically recruited from 65 venues in Philadelphia. Of 408 men ever tested for HIV, 29% took their first test in a clinic or hospital, 23% in a doctor's office, 30% at an HIV organization, and 19% in a high-risk setting, including prison, shelter, or drug treatment facility. More than half (58.5%) had their most recent test in the same type of location as their first test. Men tested at HIV organizations were the most likely to receive information about HIV prevention. Low-income Black MSM were less likely to be tested at medical settings or HIV organizations. Segmentation analysis revealed other differences in testing locations by income, race/ethnicity, and sexual identity.American journal of men's health 04/2009; 3(1):50-9. · 1.15 Impact Factor
