*This section contains some descriptions of HIV research projects. Some of the information includes HIV prevention messages.*

 

 

Black Men's Health Survey

Contact: Jennifer Lauby, Ph.D.
From 2001 through 2007, PHMC participated in a multi-site research project funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to study factors related to HIV risk among Black MSM, the group with the highest HIV infection rates in the U.S. This was the first large-scale survey of African American MSM in Philadelphia and has yielded important insights into prevention of HIV infection in this very high-risk population. Qualitative focus groups and interviews, as well as quantitative interviews were conducted to assess cultural, community and psychological factors related to HIV risk behaviors.

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Get REAL Project

Contact: Jennifer Lauby, Ph.D.
The use of drugs and alcohol has been linked to increased sexual risk for HIV among MSM, yet no intervention addressing substance use and sexual risk within this population has been rigorously evaluated. In 2005, PHMC received a five-year grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to develop, implement and evaluate a community-level intervention for Black and White substance-using MSM between the ages of 15 and 29. The intervention is designed to change both social norms and risk behavior using persuasive media communication and interpersonal networking as primary intervention strategies. The intervention is being evaluated through annual interviews with young MSM in Philadelphia and a comparison group of young MSM in Baltimore. The study results will provide needed information on substance use and sexual risk of Black and White YMSM and have direct implications for implementing effective interventions to this high-risk population.

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Community Assessment of Respondent Driven Sampling: CARDS

Contact: Jennifer Lauby, Ph.D.
Men who have sex with both men and women (MSM/W) are often not reached by HIV prevention programs that focus on gay-identified men. The aims of this CDC Cooperative Agreement are to develop strategies using RDS to recruit and interview 200 Black and 100 White MSM/W. Participants complete a computer-assisted interview and a rapid HIV test. In addition to identifying ways to locate MSM/W, the project aims to identify barriers to HIV protective behavior and positive resources that these men can use to keep safe. Findings from the project will be used to develop strategies to locate bisexually-active men and provide them with targeted HIV prevention messages, with particular emphasis on developing relevant and appropriate strategies for Black MSM/W.

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New Pathways Project

Contact: Lisa Bond
The goal of the New Pathways Project is to increase the readiness of clients to address their drug and alcohol abuse, through individualized case management delivered in a non-judgmental and supportive environment. The evaluation of the New Pathways Project comprises a longitudinal assessment of client outcomes based on data collected at baseline and six-months after enrollment. This program is funded by the federal Center for Substance Abuse Treatment and the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health (Office of Addiction Services).

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New Pathways for Women

Contact: Archana Bodas LaPollo, MPH
The goal of New Pathways for Women is to utilize motivational interviewing techniques to assist substance-involved minority women to end their use of drugs and alcohol by increasing their readiness for, access to, and entry into, substance abuse treatment and recovery oriented programs. The project, funded by the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), entails data collection at intake, 3 months (discharge) and 6 month follow up.

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PALMS Evaluation: An Innovative Theater-Based Intervention For Minority Adolescents

Contact: Jennifer Lauby, Ph.D.
Adolscents PALMS provides a three-session, theater-based, group-level intervention to predominantly African American and Latino incarcerated/adjudicated and drug treatment-based adolescents in Philadelphia. The aims of the intervention are to increase knowledge about HIV/AIDS, increase HIV testing, and reduce risky sexual behavior through increasing self-efficacy to practice safer sex behaviors. The evaluation uses a repeated measures comparison group design to assess short-term and long-term effects on sexual risk behavior and HIV testing, as well as on HIV knowledge, attitudes, peer norms and self-efficacy.

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