Intervention Description
Intervention Package Information
Evaluation Study and Results
References and Contact Information

Intervention Description

Target Population
HIV-seropositive men who have sex with men (MSM)

Goals of Intervention

• Reduce unprotected insertive and receptive anal sex with HIV negative or unknown serostatus partners
• Reduce unprotected insertive oral sex with HIV negative or unknown status partners
• Increase condom use during insertive anal sex with HIV negative or unknown status partners
• Increase disclosure of HIV status to sex partners

Theoretic Basis

• Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model
• Social Cognitive Theory
• Theory of Planned Behavior

Intervention Duration
6 weekly 3-hour group sessions

Intervention Setting
Research facility

Deliverer
Two HIV-seropositive MSM peer facilitators

• Audiotapes
• Exercises
• Group discussion
• Lecture
• Risk-reduction supplies (condoms)
• Videos

Go to top

Intervention Package Information

An intervention package is not available. Because this intervention led to modest change in only one outcome that was not sustained at the 6-month follow-up, the lead author recommends the use of other interventions for persons living with HIV. Contact Dr. Richard Wolitski, Prevention Research Branch, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, NCHHSTP, CDC, 1600 Clifton Rd (M/S E-37), Atlanta, GA 30333, e-mail: rwolitski@cdc.gov, for details on intervention materials

Go to top

Evaluation Study and Results

The original evaluation study was conducted in New York City and San Francisco between 2000 and 2002. The study included a sample of 811 HIV-seropositive homosexual and bisexual men, where 93% had at least a high-school education.

Key Intervention Effects
Reduced unprotected receptive anal sex

Study Sample

• 51% White, 23% African American, 17% Hispanic, 1% Asian, 1% American Indian, 7% Other
• 100% Male
• 88% Homosexual; 11% Bisexual; <1% Heterosexual
• Mean age of 42 years

Recruitment Settings
Community venues including AIDS service organizations, gay-identified settings (e.g., bars, community events, health clubs), and public sex environments

Eligibility Criteria
Men were considered eligible if they were aged 18 years or older, biologically male, reported sex in the prior year with 1 or more male partners whose HIV status was seronegative or unknown, self-identified as HIV-seropositive, lived within the study area, spoke English, and were available to attend the intervention.

Assignment Method
Men were randomly assigned to either an enhanced peer-led intervention (n = 413) or to a standard comparison intervention (n = 398).

Comparison Group
The standard comparison intervention consisted of 1 large group session lasting between 1.5 and 2 hours and delivered by an HIV-seropositive facilitator. The intervention included a panel presentation by local experts addressing safer sex practices, HIV and STD transmission, and potential effects of HIV treatment on transmission.

Relevant Outcomes Measured and Follow-up Time

• Sexual risk behaviors with HIV-negative or unknown status partners during the prior 90 days (including unprotected anal sex, unprotected insertive or receptive anal sex, unprotected insertive oral sex, and condom use during insertive anal sex) were measured at 3- and 6-month post-intervention.
• Disclosure of HIV status during the prior 90 days was measured at 3- and 6-month post-intervention
• STD infections (including syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and herpes simplex virus 1 and 2) were measured at 6 months.

Participant Retention

• Enhanced Peer-led Intervention:
  87% retained at 3 months
  91% retained at 6 months
• Standard Comparison Intervention:
  84% retained at 3 months
  89% retained at 6 months

Significant Findings

• At the 3-month follow-up, men in the Enhanced Peer-led intervention group were significantly less likely to report unprotected receptive anal sex than men in the comparison intervention group (p < 0.05).

Considerations

• There were no significant group differences in other sex risk behaviors, HIV disclosure, or STD prevalence at the 6-month follow-up.

Go to top

References and Contact Information

• Wolitski, R.J., Gomez, C.A., Parsons, J.T. (2005). Effects of a peer-led behavioral intervention to reduce HIV transmission and promote serostatus disclosure among HIV-seropositive gay and bisexual men. AIDS, 19 (Suppl. 1), S99-S110.
• Wolitski, R.J., Parsons, J.T., Gomez, C.A. (2005). Prevention with gay and bisexual men living with HIV: rationale and methods of the Seropositive Urban Men’s Intervention Trial (SUMIT). AIDS, 19 (Suppl. 1), S1-S11.

Researcher: Dr. Richard Wolitski, Prevention Research Branch, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, NCHHSTP, CDC, 1600 Clifton Rd (M/S E-37), Atlanta, GA 30333. e-mail: rwolitski@cdc.gov

Go to top