Recruiting Black men who have sex with men (MSM) couples via dating apps: Challenges and successes (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Darin Witkovic ◽  
Hyunjin Cindy Kim ◽  
Darius Jovon Bright ◽  
Judy Y. Tan
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Black Men ◽  
Recruitment Strategy ◽  
Black Msm ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Technical Requirements ◽  
The Us ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Primary Relationship

BACKGROUND HIV disproportionately impacts Black men who have sex with men (MSM) and targeting the primary relationship (i.e., couples) using mobile technology for health (mHealth) holds promise for HIV prevention. Online recruitment of MSM is commonly employed in HIV prevention and intervention research. However, little known about recruiting Black MSM couples online in the US. OBJECTIVE To describe the process of recruiting Black MSM couples over social networking and dating applications (apps) frequented by MSM. We describe the activities for recruiting, screening, and enrolling participants as part of a randomized trial employing a multipronged recruitment approach. METHODS Black MSM in couples were recruited via three apps (i.e., Jack’d, Adam4Adam, and Growlr) between May 2020 and March 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic in the US. Black MSM couples were eligible if one or both partners are Black, MSM, and living with HIV; and if both partners were 18 years or older, have been together for at least two months in what they both consider to be a primary relationship (i.e., one in which both partners reported feeling most committed to over any other partner or relationship). RESULTS A total of 25 couples (n = 50) were enrolled; of these, 10 couples (n = 20) were enrolled via apps. App recruitment activities were a combination of passive (e.g., in-app advertisements) and active (e.g., direct messaging of users) engagement. A full-time staff recruiter experienced challenges such as bugs (i.e., technical errors in computer program or system), navigating idiosyncratic advertising and technical requirements specific to each app, and online harassment from users. CONCLUSIONS Despite challenges, it was possible to recruit Black MSM couples virtually into research as part of a multipronged recruitment strategy. We identify tips for using online dating and other social-networking apps as part of a recruitment strategy in future research with Black MSM couples.

scholarly journals Development of a Black Caucus within the HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN): Representing the Perspectives of Black Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM)

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 871 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Watson ◽  
Leo Wilton ◽  
Jonathan Lucas ◽  
Lawrence Bryant ◽  
Gregory Victorianne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Black Men ◽  
The United States ◽  
Black Msm ◽  
Black Caucus ◽  
Prevention Trials ◽  
Hiv Clinical Trials ◽  
Sex With Men

Black men who have sex with men (MSM) have disproportionate HIV disease burden in the United States. Black MSM have been underrepresented in biomedical research, including HIV clinical trials, due to a myriad of socio-structural, socio-cultural, and psychosocial factors. The HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) 061, a feasibility study of a multi-component HIV prevention intervention for Black MSM in six US cities, incorporated the development and implementation of a Black Caucus as a culturally grounded model for the integration of Black MSM in clinical trials and research in HPTN. Based on a qualitative methodological approach, we describe the formation and implementation of the Black Caucus from the perspective of Black MSM key community stakeholders. Three major themes emerged from the qualitative narratives: (1) the role of the Black Caucus in shaping the HPTN, (2) how the Black Caucus addresses the needs of Black MSM communities pertaining to the influence of race and sexual identity, and (3) socio-cultural needs of Black MSM. These findings have implications for the provision of culturally congruent expertise, community engagement, cultural mistrust, recruitment and retention of Black MSM in HIV clinical trials, culturally-relevant study design and implementation, and the role of developing Black MSM prevention researchers.

scholarly journals Implementation of Client-Centered Care Coordination for HIV Prevention with Black Men Who Have Sex with Men: Activities, Personnel Costs, and Outcomes—HPTN 073

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darren L. Whitfield ◽  
LaRon E. Nelson ◽  
Arnošt Komárek ◽  
DeAnne Turner ◽  
Zhao Ni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Black Men ◽  
Care Coordination ◽  
Cost Of Care ◽  
Black Msm ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Prevention Services ◽  
Centered Care ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Sex With Men

Abstract Background Black men who have sex with men (MSM) experience disproportionate rates of HIV infection in the USA, despite being no more likely to engage in sexual risk behaviors than other MSM racial/ethnic groups. HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been shown to reduce risk of HIV acquisition; however, rates of PrEP use among Black MSM remain low. Clinical, psychosocial, and structural factors have been shown to impact PrEP use and adherence among Black MSM. Care coordination of HIV prevention services has the potential to improve PrEP use and adherence for Black MSM, as it has been shown to improve HIV-related care outcomes among people living with HIV. Methods Client-centered care coordination (C4) is a multi-level intervention designed to address clinical, psychosocial, and structural barriers to HIV prevention services for Black MSM within HPTN 073, a PrEP demonstration project among Black MSM in three cities in the USA. The current study examined the implementation process of C4, specifically investigating the activities, cost, time, and outcomes associated with the C4 intervention. Results On average, participants engaged in five care coordination encounters. The vast majority of care coordination activities were conducted by counselors, averaging 30 min per encounter. The cost of care coordination was relatively low with a mean cost of $8.70 per client encounter. Conclusion Although client-centered care coordination was initially implemented in well-resourced communities with robust HIV research and service infrastructure, our findings suggest that C4 can be successfully implemented in resource constrained communities.

scholarly journals Perceptions of Needs, Assets, and Priorities Among Black Men Who Have Sex With Men With HIV: Community-Driven Actions and Impacts of a Participatory Photovoice Process

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 155798831880490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina J. Sun ◽  
Jennifer L. Nall ◽  
Scott D. Rhodes
Keyword(s):  
Black Men ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Black Msm ◽  
Documentary Photography ◽  
Medical Systems ◽  
The Public ◽  
Future Aspirations ◽  
Community Forum ◽  
Sex With Men

Black men who have sex with men (MSM) with HIV experience significant health inequities and poorer health outcomes compared with other persons with HIV. The primary aims of this study were to describe the needs, assets, and priorities of Black MSM with HIV who live in the Southern United States and identify actions to improve their health using photovoice. Photovoice, a participatory, collaborative research methodology that combines documentary photography with group discussion, was conducted with six Black MSM with HIV. From the photographs and discussions, primary themes of discrimination and rejection, lack of mental health services, coping strategies to reduce stress, sources of acceptance and support, and future aspirations emerged. After the photographs were taken and discussed, the participants hosted a photo exhibition and community forum for the public. Here, 37 community attendees and influential advocates collaborated with the participants to identify 12 actions to address the men’s identified needs, assets, and priorities. These included making structural changes in the legal and medical systems, encouraging dialogue to eliminate multiple forms of stigma and racism, and advocating for comprehensive care for persons with HIV. As a secondary aim, the impacts of photovoice were assessed. Participants reported enjoying photovoice and found it meaningful. Results suggest that in addition to cultivating rich community-based knowledge, photovoice may result in positive changes for Black MSM with HIV.

scholarly journals The Social Context of HIV Prevention and Care among Black Men Who Have Sex with Men in Three U.S. Cities: The Neighborhoods and Networks (N2) Cohort Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. 1922 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dustin T. Duncan ◽  
DeMarc A. Hickson ◽  
William C. Goedel ◽  
Denton Callander ◽  
Brandon Brooks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
New Orleans ◽  
Black Msm ◽  
Deep South ◽  
Network Characteristics ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
The U.S

Background: In many parts of the world, stark racial disparities in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence, incidence, prevention, and care outcomes persist among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM), with Black MSM significantly impacted in the United States (U.S.). Individual-level characteristics, including sexual behaviors and socioeconomic status, do not fully account for racial/ethnic disparities in HIV among MSM. We hypothesize that neighborhood contexts and network characteristics influence risk for HIV infection as well as HIV-related prevention and care behaviors. As such, the study design includes the use of real-time geospatial methods and in-depth assessments of multiple network typologies to investigate the impact of neighborhood and network-level factors on HIV prevention and treatment among Black MSM residing in longstanding priority HIV elimination areas in the U.S., namely Chicago, Illinois and in the Deep South (Jackson, Mississippi and New Orleans, Louisiana) (n = 450, n = 50, and n = 100, respectively). We describe the design, sampling methods, data collection, data management methods, and preliminary findings of the ongoing ‘Neighborhoods and Networks (N2) Cohort Study’. Methods/Design: N2 employs a prospective longitudinal design. The sample includes Black MSM participants in Chicago recruited via respondent-driven sampling and assessed every six months over two years of follow-up. Participants enrolled in Jackson and New Orleans are being recruited through existing health and community services and assessed every six months over one year of follow-up. Mobility within and between neighborhoods is being assessed using global positioning system (GPS) technology. Social and sexual networks among Black MSM are being studied through egocentric network inventories as well as newer methods of creating meso-level networks that involve social media (Facebook) and mobile phone contacts. Key HIV prevention outcomes such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) care engagement, and HIV/STI (sexually transmitted infections) biomarkers will be examined at baseline and follow-up. Results: As of 31 December 2018, a total of 361 men were enrolled across all study sites: 259 in Chicago and 102 in the Deep South (75 in New Orleans and 27 in Jackson). At baseline, participants ranged in age from 17 to 65 years old (mean = 34.3, standard deviation = 5.1) with 123 men (34.1%) self-reported as HIV positive. While HIV treatment levels were similar between sites, men in the Deep South reported higher rates of adherence than men in Chicago (63.3% versus 49.4%, p = 0.03). Sexual risk profiles were mainly the same between men from different study sites, with 22.9% of men in Chicago and 28.9% in the Deep South reporting consistent condom use during vaginal and anal sex (p = 0.26). Regarding their home neighborhoods, men in the Deep South were more likely than those in Chicago to characterize theirs as having a good reputation (43.1% versus 24.7%, p < 0.001) and as being safe (37.3% versus 21.2%, p = 0.002). Conclusions: The focus on Black MSM in the N2 Study will allow for a nuanced exploration of the attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, and practices of a diverse group of Black MSM. The study is also positioned to provide novel insight about neighborhood and network characteristics that influence HIV-related behaviors. A health equity framework ensures that Black MSM are not explicitly or implicitly deemed as deviant, disordered, or the non-reference group. Findings from N2 will provide guidance for the implementation of more impactful HIV prevention interventions that engage a diverse population of Black MSM as we work toward HIV elimination in the U.S.

scholarly journals Bridging the Divide: HIV Prevention Research and Black Men Who Have Sex With Men

2014 ◽  
Vol 104 (4) ◽  
pp. 708-714 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele Peake Andrasik ◽  
Christian Chandler ◽  
Borris Powell ◽  
Damon Humes ◽  
Steven Wakefield ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Black Men ◽  
Prevention Research ◽  
Sex With Men

scholarly journals Correction: The Impact of Implementing a Test, Treat and Retain HIV Prevention Strategy in Atlanta among Black Men Who Have Sex with Men with a History of Incarceration: A Mathematical Model

PLoS ONE ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. e0128734 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viviane D. Lima ◽  
Isabell Graf ◽  
Curt G. Beckwith ◽  
Sandra Springer ◽  
Frederick L. Altice ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Black Men ◽  
Prevention Strategy ◽  
History Of ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Mental health in 2020 for men who have sex with men in the United States

Sexual Health ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abigail W. Batchelder ◽  
Steven Safren ◽  
Avery D. Mitchell ◽  
Ivan Ivardic ◽  
Conall O'Cleirigh
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
The United States ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
Hiv Care Cascade ◽  
Age Related ◽  
The Us ◽  
Prevention And Treatment ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Hiv Aids

Despite continued advances in HIV prevention and treatment, gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men (MSM) remain the population most impacted by HIV/AIDS in the US and many other Western countries. Additionally, MSM are disproportionately affected by various psychological problems, including depression, distress, trauma and substance use. These challenges frequently co-occur, and are associated with higher rates of behaviours related to HIV acquisition and transmission, HIV infection, and, for those living with HIV/AIDS, lower levels of treatment engagement. Moreover, racial disparities exist among MSM in the US; for example, young African American MSM bear a disproportionate burden of the continuing HIV epidemic, likely related to disparate HIV prevalence in partner pools as well as long-standing structural inequities. In this review, the mental health challenges facing MSM primarily in the US, related to HIV and STI prevention and across the HIV care cascade, including HIV diagnosis, engagement and retention in care, and antiretroviral adherence, are illustrated. Disparities among MSM including racial and ethnic, age-related and structural barriers associated with HIV prevention and treatment, as well as current interventions, are also described. Moving forward towards 2020, resources will be needed to assess and implement scalable intervention strategies to address psychological and social barriers to HIV and STI risk reduction and treatment for MSM, with a particular focus on the most vulnerable subpopulations. As access to prevention and treatment strategies expand, and new breakthroughs continue to emerge, behavioural strategies will continue to be needed to reduce risk and increase uptake and engagement among MSM most at risk through 2020 and beyond.

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