Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and mediation of a culturally appropriate, theory-based HIV/STI (sexually transmitted infection) risk-reduction intervention delivered in barbershops by barbers via iPads to African-American young men in reducing sexual risk behaviors.
Methods: In a cluster randomized controlled trial, 24 matched pairs of barbershops serving African-American men ages 18-24 in the 10 Philadelphia, PA zip codes with the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence were randomized to implement via iPads one of 2 interventions: "Shape Up! Barbers Building Better Brothers," an HIV/STI risk-reduction intervention based on the theory of planned behavior and formative research or an attention-matched violence-prevention control intervention. The primary outcome was self-reported consistent condom use 3, 6, and 12 months postintervention, controlling for baseline consistent condom use.
Results: Participants were 618 men, 319 in the HIV/STI intervention and 299 in the control intervention. Generalized estimating equation analysis indicated that the direct effect of the HIV/STI intervention in increasing consistent condom use postintervention was nonsignificant (odds ratio = 1.13, 95% confidence interval: 0.73-1.75), adjusting for clustering among participants in barbershops and baseline condom use. However, mediation analysis using the product-of-coefficients approach revealed indirect effects of the intervention. Consistent with the theory of planned behavior, the intervention increased behavioral beliefs and self-efficacy regarding using condoms, which raised condom use intention, which, in turn, boosted consistent condom use.
Discussion: Sexual risks among young African-American men can be reduced by barber-led theory-based, culturally appropriate HIV/STI risk-reduction interventions in barbershops in high HIV prevalence neighborhoods that increase behavioral beliefs and self-efficacy.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2022.10.030 | DOI Listing |
Open Forum Infect Dis
January 2025
Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
Background: This study aimed to identify subpopulations of Chinese men who have sex with men (MSM) with distinct sexual behavioral patterns and explore their correlations with sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Methods: We recruited 892 eligible MSM in Xi'an, China, collecting sociodemographic, sexual behavior, and STI data. Cluster analysis identified distinct sexual behavioral patterns, allowing us to examine STI differences across clusters.
Contracept Reprod Med
January 2025
School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Background: Female Condoms are 90-95% effective against HIV transmission when correctly and consistently used and are also cost-effective. In general, condoms prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unwanted pregnancies. Although the COVID-19 pandemic had the potential to undermine routine healthcare services delivery and utilisation, there is limited evidence about the pandemic's effect on Female Condom uptake in Gauteng, one of the hardest-hit provinces in South Africa.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Acquir Immune Defic Syndr
December 2024
Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY.
Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, pediatric and adult treatment programs have not met the needs of youth living with HIV (15-24 years), whose enrollment in antiretroviral treatment (ART) programs is much lower than that of adults. To inform targeted interventions, we analyzed factors associated with ART use among youth in Uganda.
Methods: Data were from 42 communities between 2011 and 2020 (5 survey rounds) from the Rakai Community Cohort Study, an open, population-based cohort.
Sex Transm Dis
February 2025
Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Background: Effective strategies to reduce sexually transmitted infection burden and transmission among female sex workers (FSWs) and their networks are needed. We report sexually transmitted infection prevalence among FSWs in Zimbabwe and investigate the performance of screening algorithms.
Methods: Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) surveys, including blood sampling for syphilis serology, were conducted among FSWs in 3 communities in Zimbabwe in 2017.
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