An HIV Prevention Intervention for Ethnically Diverse Men in Substance Abuse Treatment: Pilot Study Findings

摘要

Objectives. We determined the acceptability, participants' receptivity, and effectiveness of a culturally adapted version of Real Men Are Safe (REMAS-CA), an HIV prevention intervention for men in substance abuse treatment. Methods. In 2010 and 2011, we compared participants who attended at least 1 (of 5) REMAS-CA session (n?=?66) with participants in the original REMAS study (n?=?136). Participants completed an assessment battery at baseline and at 3-month follow-up with measures of substance abuse, HIV risk behaviors, perceived condom barriers, and demographics. We conducted postintervention focus groups at each clinic. Results. Minority REMAS-CA participants were more likely to have attended 3 or more sessions (87.0%), meeting our definition of intervention completion, than were minority participants in the REMAS study (75.1%; odds ratio?=?2.1). For REMAS-CA participants with casual partners (n?=?25), the number of unprotected sexual occasions in the past 90 days declined (6.2 vs 1.6). Among minority men in the REMAS study (n?=?36), the number of unprotected sexual occasions with casual partners changed little (9.4 vs 8.4; relative risk?=?4.56). Conclusions. REMAS-CA was effective across ethnic groups, a benefit for HIV risk reduction programs that serve a diverse clientele. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that African Americans and Hispanics are overrepresented among men with HIV infection in comparison with Whites. 1 African Americans and Hispanics each account for 13% of the total population in states monitored by CDC, but account for 43.9% and 19.6%, respectively, of HIV infections among men. Whites make up 72% of the population, but only 34.5% of the HIV infections among men.