scholarly journals An Employment Intervention Program (Work2Prevent) for Young Men Who Have Sex With Men and Transgender Youth of Color (Phase 2): Protocol for a Single-Arm Mixed Methods Pilot Test to Assess Feasibility and Acceptability

10.2196/16401 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. e16401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandon J Hill ◽  
Darnell N Motley ◽  
Kris Rosentel ◽  
Alicia VandeVusse ◽  
Robert Garofalo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adult ◽  
Hiv Risk ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Adolescent And Young Adult ◽  
Structural Level ◽  
Pilot Test ◽  
Youth Of Color ◽  
Economic Stability ◽  
Hiv Exposure ◽  
Sex With Men

Background Young cisgender men who have sex with men (YMSM), young transgender women (YTW), and gender nonconforming (GNC) youth of color face substantial economic and health disparities. In particular, HIV risk and infection among these groups remains a significant public health issue. In 2017, 17% of all new HIV diagnoses were attributed to male-to-male sexual contact among adolescents and young adults aged 13 to 24 years. However, such disparities cannot be attributed to individual-level factors alone but rather are situated within larger social and structural contexts that marginalize and predispose YMSM, YTW, and GNC youth of color to increased HIV exposure. Addressing social and structural risk factors requires intervention on distal drivers of HIV risk, including employment and economic stability. The Work2Prevent (W2P) study aims to target economic stability through job readiness and employment as a structural-level intervention for preventing adolescent and young adult HIV among black and Latinx YMSM, YTW, and GNC youth. This study seeks to assess intervention feasibility and acceptability in the target populations and determine preliminary efficacy of the intervention to increase employment and reduce sexual risk behaviors. Objective The goal of the research is to pilot-test a tailored, theoretically informed employment intervention program among YMSM, YTW, and GNC youth of color. This intervention was adapted from Increased Individual Income and Independence, an existing evidence-based employment program for HIV-positive adults during phase 1 of the W2P study. Methods The employment intervention will be pilot-tested among vulnerable YMSM, YTW, and GNC youth of color in a single-arm pre-post trial to assess feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary estimates of efficacy. Results Research activities began in March 2018 and were completed in November 2019. Overall, 5 participants were enrolled in the pretest and 51 participants were enrolled in the pilot. Conclusions Interventions that address the social and structural drivers of HIV exposure and infection are sorely needed in order to successfully bend the curve in the adolescent and young adult HIV epidemic. Employment as prevention has the potential to be a scalable intervention that can be deployed among this group. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03313310; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03313310 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/16401

scholarly journals An Employment Intervention Program (Work2Prevent) for Young Men Who Have Sex With Men and Transgender Youth of Color (Phase 2): Protocol for a Single-Arm Mixed Methods Pilot Test to Assess Feasibility and Acceptability (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandon J Hill ◽  
Darnell N Motley ◽  
Kris Rosentel ◽  
Alicia VandeVusse ◽  
Robert Garofalo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adult ◽  
Hiv Risk ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Adolescent And Young Adult ◽  
Structural Level ◽  
Pilot Test ◽  
Youth Of Color ◽  
Economic Stability ◽  
Hiv Exposure ◽  
Sex With Men

BACKGROUND Young cisgender men who have sex with men (YMSM), young transgender women (YTW), and gender nonconforming (GNC) youth of color face substantial economic and health disparities. In particular, HIV risk and infection among these groups remains a significant public health issue. In 2017, 17% of all new HIV diagnoses were attributed to male-to-male sexual contact among adolescents and young adults aged 13 to 24 years. However, such disparities cannot be attributed to individual-level factors alone but rather are situated within larger social and structural contexts that marginalize and predispose YMSM, YTW, and GNC youth of color to increased HIV exposure. Addressing social and structural risk factors requires intervention on distal drivers of HIV risk, including employment and economic stability. The Work2Prevent (W2P) study aims to target economic stability through job readiness and employment as a structural-level intervention for preventing adolescent and young adult HIV among black and Latinx YMSM, YTW, and GNC youth. This study seeks to assess intervention feasibility and acceptability in the target populations and determine preliminary efficacy of the intervention to increase employment and reduce sexual risk behaviors. OBJECTIVE The goal of the research is to pilot-test a tailored, theoretically informed employment intervention program among YMSM, YTW, and GNC youth of color. This intervention was adapted from Increased Individual Income and Independence, an existing evidence-based employment program for HIV-positive adults during phase 1 of the W2P study. METHODS The employment intervention will be pilot-tested among vulnerable YMSM, YTW, and GNC youth of color in a single-arm pre-post trial to assess feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary estimates of efficacy. RESULTS Research activities began in March 2018 and were completed in November 2019. Overall, 5 participants were enrolled in the pretest and 51 participants were enrolled in the pilot. CONCLUSIONS Interventions that address the social and structural drivers of HIV exposure and infection are sorely needed in order to successfully bend the curve in the adolescent and young adult HIV epidemic. Employment as prevention has the potential to be a scalable intervention that can be deployed among this group. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03313310; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03313310 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT DERR1-10.2196/16401

scholarly journals An Employment Intervention Program (Work2Prevent) for Young Men Who Have Sex With Men and Transgender Youth of Color (Phase 1): Protocol for Determining Essential Intervention Components Using Qualitative Interviews and Focus Groups

10.2196/16384 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. e16384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandon J Hill ◽  
Darnell N Motley ◽  
Kris Rosentel ◽  
Alicia VandeVusse ◽  
Robert Garofalo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adult ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Adolescent And Young Adult ◽  
Structural Level ◽  
Youth Of Color ◽  
Essential Components ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Community Spaces ◽  
Depth Interviews

Background HIV continues to have a disparate impact on young cisgender men who have sex with men (YMSM), young trans women (YTW), and gender-nonconforming (GNC) youth who are assigned male at birth. Outcomes are generally worse among youth of color. Experiences of discrimination and marginalization often limit educational attainment and may even more directly limit access to gainful employment. Though seemingly distal, these experiences influence young people’s proximity to HIV risk by limiting their access to health care and potentially moving them toward sex work as a means of income as well as increased substance use. Work2Prevent (W2P) aims to achieve economic stability through employment as a structural-level intervention for preventing adolescent and young adult HIV infection. The study will pilot-test an effective, theoretically driven employment program (increased individual income and independence [iFOUR]), for HIV-positive adults, and adapt it to the needs of black and Latinx YMSM, YTW, and GNC youth aged 16 to 24 years who are vulnerable to HIV exposure. Objective This paper aimed to describe the protocol for the exploratory phase of W2P. The purpose of this phase was to determine the essential components needed for a structural-level employment intervention aimed at increasing job-seeking self-efficacy and career readiness among black and Latinx YMSM, YTW, and GNC youth aged 16 to 24 years. Methods The exploratory phase of the W2P study consisted of in-depth interviews and focus groups with members of the target community as well as brief interviews with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ)–inclusive employers. The study team will conduct in-depth interviews with up to 12 YMSM and 12 YTW and GNC youth, up to 10 focus groups with a maximum of 40 YMSM and 40 YTW and GNC youth, and up to 40 brief interviews with LGBTQ-inclusive employers. Participants will be recruited through a community-based recruiter, passive recruitment in community spaces and on social media, and active recruitment by research staff in community spaces serving LGBTQ youth. Results In-depth interviews were conducted with 21 participants, and 7 focus groups were conducted with 46 participants in total. In addition, 19 brief interviews with LGBTQ-inclusive employers were conducted. The analysis of the data is underway. Conclusions Preliminary findings from the formative phase of the study will be used to inform the tailoring and refinement of the iFOUR adult-based intervention into the youth-focused W2P intervention curriculum. Perspectives from YMSM, YTW, GNC youth, and LGBTQ-inclusive employers offer a multidimensional view of the barriers and facilitators to adolescent and young adult LGBTQ employment. This information is critical to the development of a culturally appropriate and relevant youth-focused intervention. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03313310; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03313310 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/16384

scholarly journals An Employment Intervention Program (Work2Prevent) for Young Men Who Have Sex With Men and Transgender Youth of Color (Phase 1): Protocol for Determining Essential Intervention Components Using Qualitative Interviews and Focus Groups (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandon J Hill ◽  
Darnell N Motley ◽  
Kris Rosentel ◽  
Alicia VandeVusse ◽  
Robert Garofalo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adult ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Adolescent And Young Adult ◽  
Structural Level ◽  
Youth Of Color ◽  
Essential Components ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Community Spaces ◽  
Depth Interviews

BACKGROUND HIV continues to have a disparate impact on young cisgender men who have sex with men (YMSM), young trans women (YTW), and gender-nonconforming (GNC) youth who are assigned male at birth. Outcomes are generally worse among youth of color. Experiences of discrimination and marginalization often limit educational attainment and may even more directly limit access to gainful employment. Though seemingly distal, these experiences influence young people’s proximity to HIV risk by limiting their access to health care and potentially moving them toward sex work as a means of income as well as increased substance use. Work2Prevent (W2P) aims to achieve economic stability through employment as a structural-level intervention for preventing adolescent and young adult HIV infection. The study will pilot-test an effective, theoretically driven employment program (increased individual income and independence [iFOUR]), for HIV-positive adults, and adapt it to the needs of black and Latinx YMSM, YTW, and GNC youth aged 16 to 24 years who are vulnerable to HIV exposure. OBJECTIVE This paper aimed to describe the protocol for the exploratory phase of W2P. The purpose of this phase was to determine the essential components needed for a structural-level employment intervention aimed at increasing job-seeking self-efficacy and career readiness among black and Latinx YMSM, YTW, and GNC youth aged 16 to 24 years. METHODS The exploratory phase of the W2P study consisted of in-depth interviews and focus groups with members of the target community as well as brief interviews with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ)–inclusive employers. The study team will conduct in-depth interviews with up to 12 YMSM and 12 YTW and GNC youth, up to 10 focus groups with a maximum of 40 YMSM and 40 YTW and GNC youth, and up to 40 brief interviews with LGBTQ-inclusive employers. Participants will be recruited through a community-based recruiter, passive recruitment in community spaces and on social media, and active recruitment by research staff in community spaces serving LGBTQ youth. RESULTS In-depth interviews were conducted with 21 participants, and 7 focus groups were conducted with 46 participants in total. In addition, 19 brief interviews with LGBTQ-inclusive employers were conducted. The analysis of the data is underway. CONCLUSIONS Preliminary findings from the formative phase of the study will be used to inform the tailoring and refinement of the iFOUR adult-based intervention into the youth-focused W2P intervention curriculum. Perspectives from YMSM, YTW, GNC youth, and LGBTQ-inclusive employers offer a multidimensional view of the barriers and facilitators to adolescent and young adult LGBTQ employment. This information is critical to the development of a culturally appropriate and relevant youth-focused intervention. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03313310; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03313310 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT DERR1-10.2196/16384

scholarly journals Sexual Partner Characteristics, Relationship Type, and HIV Risk Among a Community Venue–Based Sample of Urban Adolescent and Young Adult Men Who Have Sex With Men

2016 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 219-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cherrie B. Boyer ◽  
Lauren Greenberg ◽  
James Korelitz ◽  
Gary W. Harper ◽  
Rachel Stewart-Campbell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adult ◽  
Hiv Risk ◽  
Sexual Partner ◽  
The United States ◽  
Sexual Partners ◽  
Adolescent And Young Adult ◽  
Relationship Type ◽  
Sexual Partnerships ◽  
Adult Men ◽  
Sex With Men

Few studies have examined sexual partnerships and HIV risk in diverse samples of African American/Black and Hispanic/Latino adolescent and young adult men who have sex with men (YMSM), a group that have a high burden of HIV in the United States. A community–venue recruitment approach was used, which identified significant differences in HIV risk by sexual partner type among 1,215 YMSM. Those with casual partners had a higher number of sexual partners, had more sexually transmitted infections (STIs), were more likely to engage in transactional sex, and to use alcohol, marijuana, or other substances compared with those with main partners only. Among those with female sexual partners, many used condoms “every time” when engaging in vaginal sex with casual partners, but a sizable proportion “never/rarely” used condoms with their main partners. Our findings demonstrate a need for tailored HIV prevention education and counseling with necessary skills regarding consistent and correct condom use with all sexual partnerships.

scholarly journals Self-Silencing, but Not Sexual Relationship Power Associated with Condom Use for Black College-Aged Women

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynissa Stokes ◽  
Leslie Brody
Keyword(s):  
Young Adult ◽  
Condom Use ◽  
Hiv Risk ◽  
Sexual Relationship ◽  
Black College ◽  
Adolescent And Young Adult ◽  
Adult Women ◽  
Relationship Power ◽  
Young Adult Women ◽  
Black Adolescent

Black adolescent and young adult women in the United States experience a disproportionately higher rate of HIV infections than White and Hispanic adolescent and young adult women. Heterosexual sexual activity is the main route of infection for women, regardless of race or ethnicity. We examined two potential barriers to reducing Black adolescent and young adult women’s HIV risk: high levels of self-silencing and low levels of sexual relationship power. Data were collected on a small convenience sample of sexually active Black college-aged women (N = 57, Mage = 19.6, SD = 1.4) who answered questions about their current or most recent dating relationship. We found that higher levels of self-silencing were significantly related to lower condom use frequency and to a lower likelihood of reporting condom use at last sex. No significant associations were found between sexual relationship power and condom use (frequency or at last sex). Data from this study suggest that self-silencing, which involves putting the needs of others ahead of one’s own in order to avoid conflict in relationships, is an important variable to consider when examining potential risk factors for sexually transmitted HIV among Black college-aged women. Implications for future studies on HIV risk are reviewed.

scholarly journals Reducing shame in a game that predicts HIV risk reduction for young adult men who have sex with men: a randomized trial delivered nationally over the web

2013 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 18716 ◽  
Author(s):  
John L Christensen ◽  
Lynn Carol Miller ◽  
Paul Robert Appleby ◽  
Charisse Corsbie-Massay ◽  
Carlos Gustavo Godoy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adult ◽  
Randomized Trial ◽  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Hiv Risk ◽  
Hiv Risk Reduction ◽  
Adult Men ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
The Web
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