A Community-based Intervention to Increase PrEP Initiation in Prince George's County, Maryland: Reducing HIV Stigma and Increasing Social Support
George Mason University
Summary
The goal of the proposed research is to design a peer-based community intervention focused on addressing HIV stigma, and peer support to increase PrEP initiation in Prince George's County, MD. Participants will attend intervention events focused on stigma reduction and building community. Researchers will compare intervention and control group participants to see if there in a difference in PrEP initiation and adherence.
Description
Black gay, bisexual, and other Black sexual minority men (BSMM) are a priority population and experience the highest rate of new HIV infections in the United States. Maryland (MD) is an HIV epicenter and ranks 4th in AIDS cases nationally; the state has several hotspots of HIV and AIDS cases in geographically distinct areas, including urban, suburban, and rural settings. Prince George's (PG) County is a majority Black suburban county (63% Black) bordering Washington, DC, with the highest per capita income for Black people in the nation, yet the second highest incidence and prevalence of HIV in…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- Male
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * Male * Black * HIV-negative * 18 years of age or older * Either residing in Prince George's County Maryland, or having a sexual partner in Prince George's County Maryland within the past year. Exclusion Criteria * HIV Positive * Refusal of HIV testing
Interventions
- BehavioralMPowerment PrEP Promotion Intervention
In-person events will focus on five specific goals: Fostering a sense of community acceptance and social connection, promoting self-acceptance of sexual identity, teaching skills for navigating healthcare, reducing PrEP stigma, and providing education on HIV risk. In accordance with the MPowerment model, In collaboration with the PI, the core group and volunteers would lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of all intervention events. Both peer leaders and the primary investigator will collaborate to develop specific events ("M-Groups"), guided by the findings in both the quantitative and qualitative studies. M-Groups will be held once every month. Events will be 2 hour activities focused on the aforementioned goals.
Location
- George Mason UniversityFairfax, Virginia