Identifying Why and How Non-IDU Black MSM Maintain HIV Seronegativity
Jagadisa-devasri Dacus, LMSW, Principal Investigator
Specific Aims
Preliminary data from the HIV-testing component of the National HIV Behavioral
Surveillance System (CDC, 2006), indicated that of the MSM surveyed 25% were infected with
HIV. Of that group, 48% were unaware of their HIV status, and of the MSM who tested positive
for HIV, seropositive prevalence was highest among Blacks at an alarming 46% (CDC, 2006).
Subsequently, in 2006, groups of Black gay male HIV/AIDS health and human service providers
and of HIV behavioral and social scientists mobilized to draw more attention to the large
numbers of those infected.
Although considerable research has focused on the risk factors for HIV infection among
Black MSM, the remaining 54% of Black MSM who tested seronegative have not received much
attention. Since the aim of primary HIV prevention is to keep seronegatives negative, this group
of Black MSM warrants attention. As the first step of a long-term research agenda, this one-year
New York City-based study1 will inform the development and evaluation of culturally- and
gender-appropriate HIV primary prevention interventions for non-IDU seronegative Black
MSM. The proposed study will identify, examine, and analyze the behaviors, circumstances, or
other factors non-IDU seronegative Black MSM aged 21 and over report that enable them to
remain negative.
The study will focus on three age cohorts (21-29, 30-39 and 40 and over) and one mixed-age
cohort, to control for different age group experiences with the HIV epidemic, and to capture
socially influenced responses in groups. Specifically, the study will:
1
New York City, along with Baltimore, Los Angeles, Miami and San Francisco, was one of the five cities where
HIV testing revealed the high proportion of HIV and undiagnosed HIV among Black MSM
1
a) In Phase One, complete a literature review and collect qualitative data from key
informants (members or non-members of Black MSM communities who know the
communities well and who can share their broad and specific perspectives about non-IDU
seronegative Black MSM) and social service providers in order to inform topic guides
and surveys about the strategies and tactics New York City non-IDU seronegative Black
MSM implement to remain seronegative. Data includes:
i.
four individual interviews with key informants (who will offer their perspectives
to inform further investigation with their peers) who are seronegative non-IDU
Black MSM,
ii.
two facilitated roundtable discussions at national HIV prevention conferences (US
Conference on AIDS and HIV Prevention Leadership Conference) to elicit social
service providers’ knowledge and perceptions of, and assumptions about, the
protective factors that help their non-IDU Black MSM clients/consumers maintain
seronegativity, and
iii.
one focus group of six social service providers in New York City and one focus
group of six to ten social service providers at the National AIDS Education and
Services for Minorities (NAESM) Black MSM Conference.
b) In Phase Two, using topic guides and online surveys based on findings from Phase One,
conduct:
i.
four 9-person focus groups of seronegative Black MSM in three age cohorts (2129, 30-39 and 40 and over) and one mixed-age cohort to control for different age
group experiences with the HIV epidemic, and to capture socially-influenced
responses in groups, and
2
ii.
50 online surveys to capture factors affecting those who access social networks
This pilot work will contribute to the development of new, culturally- and genderappropriate interventions to maintain seronegativity among Black MSM in a planned series of
funded projects.
Background and Significance
The Need. Disproportionate seroprevalence. Among Black men living with HIV, the
primary mode of transmission is high-risk sexual contact with other men, followed by injection
drug use (CDC, 2006)2. However, studies suggest that Black MSM are not engaging in higher
risk behaviors than non-Black MSM (NASTAD, 2006, 2007). The connection between higher
rates of HIV acquisition and transmission among Black MSM remains unclear, although
researchers suggest that the composition of Black MSM social and sexual networks, and not
sexual behaviors, may explain their greater seroprevalence compared to non-Black MSM (Bohl,
Raymond, Arnold & McFarland, 2009; Millet, Flores & Peterson, 2007; Peterson & Jones,
2009). The phenomenon, described as “less risk, more effect,” is used to explain how Black
MSM were twice as likely as White MSM to be diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease
(STD), even though Black MSM report fewer lifetime male sex partners, lower rates of
substance abuse, and less drug use associated with HIV infection than White MSM (Millet,
Flores, Peterson & Bakeman, 2007).
The last US Census (2000) found that Blacks represented approximately 13% of the total
US population; yet in terms of race, Blacks are the racial group most affected by HIV in the US.
In 37 states and 5 US dependent areas with long-term, confidential name-based HIV infection
2
Black MSM-IDU have been excluded from the literature review for two reasons: 1) injection drug use and the
sharing of injection drug equipment, specifically infected needles, syringes and works, are extremely efficient ways
of transmitting and acquiring HIV, and 2)Black men, regardless of sexual behavior, disproportionately represent the
majority of IDU-related HIV diagnoses (CDC, 2008).
3
reporting, Blacks accounted for nearly half (46%) of people living with an HIV diagnosis at the
end of 2007 (CDC, 2009). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that
among Blacks, one in 16 men and one in 30 women will receive a HIV diagnosis during their
lifetimes (CDC, 2010).
Seroincidence in Black men. According to the CDC (2005, 2008, 2010), among Blacks,
men represent the majority (65%) of all new infections. This is six times greater than White men
and three times greater than Latino men. It is also two times greater than that of Black women
(CDC, 2008). Among all groups classified by behavioral risk, HIV infection rates are highest for
men who have sex with men (MSM).
Seroprevalence in MSM. MSM is the term the CDC surveillance system uses to indicate
the behaviors that transmit HIV infection; it is not a descriptor of sexual identity or sexual
orientation. Whereas MSM were 2% of the US population, they accounted for 53% of all people
living with HIV infection in 2006. Together with AIDS diagnoses and AIDS-related deaths,
MSM have been the most affected group since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the
US.
Incidence among Black MSM. Black MSM represent 63% of new infections among all
Black men and 35% of new infections among all MSM (CDC, 2008; 2010). What is even more
troubling is that for Black MSM aged 13 to 29, HIV incidence is higher compared to their age
and racial peers; they are 1.6 and 2.3 times greater than that of White and Latino men
respectively (CDC, 2008, 2010; NASTAD 2009). According to Peterson and Jones (2009)
“Black MSM in the United States now experience rates of HIV infection that rival those among
the general population in the developing world.” Data collected from 2005 to 2008 indicated that
the percentage of diagnoses of HIV infection among Black MSM increased from 36% to 40%,
4
while decreasing from 41% to 37% among White MSM. Additionally, by 2008, data showed that
HIV infection (both incidence and prevalence) among Black MSM surpassed and exceeded that
of Whites (CDC, 2010).
Addressing the epidemic among Black MSM. To date, there are only two CDC's Diffusion
of Effective Interventions project (DEBIs) interventions that use scientific research to address
HIV acquisition and transmission among Black MSM. One intervention, d-up! Defend Yourself,
is only a “cultural adaptation” of another community-level intervention that was not originally
intended or developed for Black MSM (Jones et al., 2008). The scientific evidence behind d-up!
aims to change social norms regarding condom use via influential opinion leaders trusted by their
peers through friendship and social networks. The other intervention, Many Men, Many Voices
(3MV), aims to prevent HIV and STD transmission among gay and non-gay identified Black
MSM. The evidence behind this intervention deals with influencing factors such as cultural,
social, and religious norms, HIV and STDs, sexual relationship dynamics, racism and
homophobia (Wilton et al., 2009). In addition, both d-up! and 3MV have at least one or more of
the following strategies as a focus: addressing barriers to HIV counseling and testing, treatment
and care; demonstrating cultural competency; intervening in social networks; empowering and
mobilizing Black MSM communities; and providing comprehensive health and wellness
services.
These evidence-based interventions (EBIs) have been proven effective with Black MSM
at high- and at greatest risk for HIV acquisition and transmission (Effective Interventions, 2010).
A limitation of the EBIs is that they are not designed for Black MSM who are at low risk and
already engaging in protective behaviors. Unfortunately, there are no EBIs designed to support
or reinforce the protective behaviors, social norms, and other factors that contribute to
5
seronegativity among non-IDU Black MSM. This lack is consistent with the scientific research
that has focused only on the transmission-related behaviors of Black MSM. Hopefully, this study
will prompt a reexamination and reassessment of the current primary HIV prevention portfolio
for seronegative Black MSM with the aim of retooling and/or developing new tools and
measures to support HIV-uninfected Black MSM to maintain seronegativity.
The Setting. New York City will provide an ideal backdrop against which to research the
strategies and tactics of non-IDU seronegative Black MSM because New York State ranks the
highest in the country with regard to HIV infection rates among Blacks and highest among Black
MSM, 44 % and 29% respectively (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2011). Additionally, New York
City has numerous community based social service agencies and organizations (including AIDS
service organizations) that provide health and human services to Black MSM. Thus, service
providers here have experience with clients and perspective as their clients have adapted to
different phases of the epidemic.
Preliminary Studies
Mr. Jagadisa-devasri Dacus, PI, is a New York State (NYS) licensed social worker who
received his Masters of Social Work from the Columbia University School of Social Work. Mr.
Dacus has worked with Black MSM for over a decade, largely as a clinician and trainer on, and
facilitator of, HIV prevention interventions and strategies, including the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) Demonstration of Evidence-Based Interventions. As the former
Senior Director of Training & Capacity Building Programs at the Harm Reduction Coalition
(HRC), Mr. Dacus oversaw the provision of technical assistance, information and technology
transfer, and skills-building activities to over 5,000 social service providers and over 800
HIV/AIDS prevention organizations and health departments (HDs) which comprised HRC’s
6
clientele.
With over seven years of experience as a CDC-funded capacity building assistance
provider for CBOs and health departments targeting African American communities, he has
extensive experience serving Black MSM populations in numerous social services settings, i. e.,
The New York State Black Gay Network, the New York City Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender (LGBT) Community Services Center, Bronx AIDS Services, and Gay Men’s Health
Crisis. Additionally, Mr. Dacus has a history of working for and with CBOs and HDs engaged in
the implementation of HIV prevention interventions for other high-risk racial and ethnic
populations, youth and young adults, and LGBT communities. He has served on the New York
City HIV Prevention Planning Group as the Chair of the MSM Workgroup, is an Institute for
HIV Prevention Leadership scholar, and is a lead and master trainer on 12 evidence-based HIV
prevention interventions (many of which have been developed with, adapted for, and
implemented with Black MSM) which form part of the CDC's DEBI Project.
Mr. Dacus possesses 18 year’s worth of experience and practice in public health as a
social worker, with specific training and expertise in key research areas for this application. As a
doctoral candidate at the Hunter College School of Social Work, he will continue to develop his
skill set and refine his expertise in the areas of formative and survey research and primary and
secondary data analysis on issues related to HIV/AIDS. Mr. Dacus has: Developed and
implemented evaluation processes in the nonprofit sector; conducted formative evaluation related
to evidence-based HIV prevention interventions (e. g., Safety Counts3); taken research and
evaluation courses and workshops; designed focus group guides; conducted focus groups; and
3
“Are Young Black Men Who Have Sex with Men (YMSM) a Risk Group for A Methamphetamine Epidemic?:
Formative Research Findings,” National Conference on Social Work and HIV/AIDS, Albuquerque, New Mexico,
May 27, 2007.
7
trained health and human service providers on how to conduct focus groups
The research team will consist of:

Principal Investigator – Jagadisa-devasri Dacus, LMSW, Ph.D. Candidate

Co-Investigator – Beatrice Krauss, PhD

Research Assistant – TBH
Mr. Dacus will be joined on this project by a Master’s level research assistant, trained in the
social, health, or behavioral sciences with at least two years of experience in designing and
conducting surveys and focus groups with the target populations. Beatrice Krauss, Ph.D.,
Professor of Public Health, will assist in designing analyses and lend her expertise on elicitation
research designed to inform intervention design (see Krauss et al., in Pequegnat and Szapocznik,
2000).
8
Research Design and Methods
Overview. The research will be conducted in two phases: Phase one) Mr. Dacus will
conduct a comprehensive and comparative review of the literature on risk-promoting and riskreducing factors among non-IDU Black MSM populations, both locally and nationally, and will
interview or lead discussions of key informants and service providers, in order to author
appropriate on-line surveys and focus group guides; Phase two) will consist of (a) focus groups
of seronegative Black MSM in three age cohorts (21-29, 30-39 and 40 and over) and one mixedage cohort, and (b) online surveying (using SurveyMonkey.com, encrypted version) to capture
factors affecting those non-IDU seronegative Black MSMS who access online social networking
sites.
In all phases, sampling will be designed to capture the diversity of Black seronegative
MSM in order to facilitate saturation of the strategies used by those in different age, socioeconomic, and social networks. Relationship pattern (e.g., concurrency, serial monogamy) is
assumed to be a protective or risk strategy, hence sampling is not directed by relationship
pattern.
Phase One Literature Review: Sampling and Analysis
Mr. Dacus will work with health research librarian, John Carey, at the Hunter College
Brookdale Health Professions Library, to conduct the literature review on risk-promoting and
risk-reducing factors among non-IDU Black MSM populations. They will utilize pertinent City
University of New York databases (e. g., EBSCO, MEDLINE, Psychinfo, Pubmed, Social
Sciences) to acquire all pertinent literature since 2000 as well as examining core concepts in
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) and CDC evidencebased HIV risk reduction interventions for Black males/MSM.
9
Standard literature review quality control procedures will be used: 1) selection and
review of key search terms by logical analysis and by reference to key articles and the keywords
included in those articles, 2) independent search by two team members, 3) checking that
references cited in key articles have been obtained, 4) development of data quality inclusion
criteria (e.g., clinical or service experience, research design quality) and 5) hand-search of
selected years of key journals to ensure there have not been omissions in the electronic search.
The literature will be summarized by narrative meta-analytic techniques, that is a table of
empirically-supported or clinically-observed strategies and their relationship (+,0,-) to protective,
neutral or risk-enhancing outcomes.
Analysis of core elements of existing evidence-based interventions will be conducted by
thematic content analyses of intervention descriptions by two team members with conflicts
resolved by the third.
Phase One Key Informant and Service Provider Interviews
Inclusion Criteria for Phase One. Qualitative data will be collected via individual interviews,
roundtable discussions, and focus groups with people who meet the following categorical
criteria:
i.
Individual interviewees – key informants who are seronegative non-IDU Black MSM
ii.
Roundtable discussants – with social service providers at two national HIV prevention
conferences (US Conference on AIDS and HIV Prevention Leadership Conference) with
expert knowledge, professional perceptions of, and assumptions about, the protective
factors that help their non-IDU Black MSM clients/consumers maintain seronegativity
iii.
Focus group participants (two groups) – (group #1) New York City-based social service
providers and (group #2) social service providers recruited at the NAESM Black MSM
10
Conference
Recruitment Phase One.
Key Informants. The research team will endeavor to have a diverse sampling of four
non-IDU seronegative MSM representing different socioeconomic statuses, age groups (21-29,
30-39 and 40 and over), educational experience, and styles of socializing, who are central in
large Black MSM networks.
The key informant interviewees will be referred by gatekeepers, that is, members of Mr.
Dacus’ professional network of social service providers who work with non-IDU Black MSM
around maintaining their seronegativity. The key informants will have to meet all of the
following criteria:
1. Adult (21 years and older)
2. Self-identify as Black (regardless of national origin)
3. Reside in the New York City metro area (five boroughs)
4. Self-identify as a man who has been sexually active for a minimum of 3 years with other
men and sexually active in the last 3 months
5. Self-report as seronegative at the time of interview
6. Self-report not having a history of injection drug use
Social Service Providers. Roundtable discussions will be listed in the program and workshop
guide for each of the two national HIV prevention conferences: US Conference on AIDS and
HIV Prevention Leadership Conference. Roundtable discussions are typically arranged for up to
25 discussants who attend based on interest. It is anticipated that 10-15 discussants will attend
each roundtable.
11
Focus Groups. Six members of Mr. Dacus’ professional network of social service providers
who work with non-IDU Black MSM will be recruited for the New York City-based social
service providers’ focus group and six will be recruited at the 2011 NAESM Black MSM
Conference.
Phase Two Interviews and Surveys
Inclusion Criteria for Phase Two. Qualitative and quantitative data will be collected via focus
groups and online surveys of men who meet all of the following criteria:
1. Adult (21 years and older)
2. Self-identify as Black (regardless of national origin)
3. Reside in the New York City metro area (five boroughs)
4. Self-identify as a man who has been sexually active for a minimum of 3 years with other
men and sexually active in the last 3 months
5. Self-report as seronegative at the time of interview
6. Self-report not having a history of injection drug use
Recruitment. Phase Two.
Focus Groups. Seronegative Black MSM will be recruited for a total of four 9-person focus
groups, representing three age cohorts (21-29, 30-39 and 40 and over) and one mixed-age cohort.
Recruitment efforts will include: Referrals from Mr. Dacus’ professional network of social
service providers, recommended by key informants; responses to ads placed in popular New
York City (gay) publications (Next Magazine, HX, Gay City News, and the Village Voice); and
on social utility and networking sites frequented by Black MSM (Facebook, Twitter, Black Gay
Chat Live, Adam4Adam, Craigslist, etc.). The men will have to meet all of the following criteria:
1. Adult (21 years and older)
12
2. Self-identify as Black (regardless of national origin)
3. Reside in the New York City metro area (five boroughs)
4. Self-identify as a man who has been sexually active for a minimum of 3 years with other
men and sexually active in the last 3 months
5. Self-report as seronegative at the time of focus group
6. Self-report not having a history of injection drug use
Through quota sampling (that is, accepting every nth person who meets criteria, with N
adjusted to obtain rare persons), the research team will endeavor to have a diverse sampling
within each of the age cohorts of non-IDU seronegative MSM across areas such as
socioeconomic status, educational background, styles of socializing, and centrality in large Black
MSM networks.
Online Surveys. In order to capture factors affecting those who access social networks, the
research team will endeavor to have a diverse sampling of 50 non-IDU seronegative MSM across
socioeconomic statuses, in each of four age groups (21-29, 30-39 and 40 and over), and by
educational experience, styles of socializing, and centrality in large Black MSM networks.
Recruitment efforts will rely heavily on: Responses to ads placed in popular New York City
(gay) publications (Next Magazine, HX, Gay City News, and the Village Voice) and on social
utility and networking sites frequented by Black MSM (Facebook, Twitter, Black Gay Chat Live,
Adam4Adam, Craigslist, etc.). The men will have to meet all of the following criteria:
1. Adult (21 years and older)
2. Self-identify as Black (regardless of national origin)
3. Reside in the New York City metro area (five boroughs)
13
4. Self-identify as a man who has been sexually active for a minimum of 3 years with other
men and sexually active in the last 3 months
5. Self-report as seronegative at the time of focus group
6. Self-report not having a history of injection drug use
Methods
For the purposes of participation, all Black MSM and social service providers will be
screened for eligibility and will provide written consent prior to interviews, roundtables, and/or
focus groups. The online survey will be preceded by an informed consent page. Interviews,
roundtables, and focus groups will be audio recorded and written transcriptions will be made
available to participants upon request. Incentives will be provided to key informants, focus
group participants, and online survey takers.
Phase One.
Key informant interviews will take place at Hunter College Center for Urban and
Community Health research office located on the Brookdale Campus in Manhattan and
facilitated by the PI. Four Black MSM will be invited for individual 90-minute interviews. This
in-depth interview will be informed by the literature review; however, it is anticipated that there
will be open-ended questions such as:

Has the HIV epidemic affected you and your behavior? How? Why?

You are in this study because you reported you are seronegative. How do you think you
have been able to stay seronegative? (probing for tactics, support, orientation, etc.)

Why have you been able to stay seronegative? (probing for motivation, culture,
spirituality, sexual socialization, etc.)
14
Social service providers who work with Black MSM will be invited to roundtable
discussion sessions and a focus group. One roundtable discussions will occur at the US
Conference on AIDS and the other at the HIV Prevention Leadership Conference; and one focus
group of New York City-based social service providers and one group of nationally-based social
service providers will take place. Roundtables at these conferences are usually held in large halls,
with enough separation between tables to ensure privacy of discussions. Each roundtable and
focus group will be facilitated by the PI. These two-hour roundtable sessions and focus groups
will be informed by the literature review and initial findings from the key informant interview.
There will be open-ended questions such as:

How important do you think it is to help support seronegativity among non-IDU Black
MSM? Why?

What are the strategies and tactics that you have heard non-IDU seronegative Black
MSM report they employ to stay seronegative?

What are some of the positive influencing factors that support their strategies and tactics?

From your perspective as an HIV prevention services provider, what are things that nonIDU Black MSM could be doing to ensure their seronegativity (thinking of strategies
and/or tactics)?
Phase Two.
Focus groups with Black MSM will be held at select community-based organizations in
the New York City metro area, facilitated by either the PI or the Research Assistant. Nine Black
MSM will be invited to attend each of the four age cohort focus groups (total n=36). Each focus
group will be conducted using topic guidelines based on findings from Phase One. The
guidelines will likely cover the following open-ended questions:
15

Has the HIV epidemic affected you and your behavior? How? Why?

You are in this study because you reported you are seronegative. How do you think you
have been able to stay seronegative? (probing for tactics, support, orientation, etc.)

Why have you been able to stay seronegative? (probing for motivation, culture,
spirituality, sexual socialization, etc.)
Online surveying will be managed through the Survey Monkey
(www.surveymonkey.com) website (version with enhanced encryption) as the method of
capturing factors affecting those who access social utility and networking sites. The survey
content will be similar to the topic guidelines used for the focus groups. The survey questions
will cover the following domains:

sexual orientation and sexual identity

Age (at time of sexual initiation)

Social and/or supportive networks

Normalization of salient health issues

Cultural issues

Psychological issues

Socioeconomic status

Social norms and related behaviors

Educational experience

Spirituality and/or religiosity

Self-concept and/or self-esteem

Future orientation cognition

Typical instance where safer sex occurred
16

Relationship pattern

Risk protective strategies
Analysis
Interview, roundtable, and focus group data will be transcribed into text and examined for
themes relating to tactics used and strategies implemented to maintain seronegativity. Using
techniques and methods suggested by Bryman and Burgess (1994), Strauss and Corbin (1998),
and Miles and Huberman (1994) , it is anticipated that narratives will include acts, actors,
antecedents, consequents, scenes and settings, and that themes will acknowledge these
motivational, person, and contextual factors. Scoring of factors and themes quantitatively may
assist in identifying hierarchical themes, e.g., a set of tactics involved with a risk avoidance
strategy – the ability to negotiate sexual practices, including condom use, especially in situations
involving age inequities and sex role expectations. Or perhaps, a set of tactics involved with a
feeling of social responsibility to address the epidemic – guided by beliefs and values that are
supportive of homosexuality, sexuality and same sex/gender relationships.
The results of on-line surveys will be imported into SPSS, using its capacity to capture
both string and numeric variables for open-ended and close-ended responses. Descriptive data
for on-line responders will be produced and compared to thematic content from other sources.
Both qualitative and quantitative findings will be compared to results of the literature
review to identify gaps in current approaches. That is, the identification and analysis of the
strategies and tactics non-IDU Black MSM use to maintain their seronegativity, to guide a
reexamination of current HIV prevention activities and interventions for Black MSM; especially
those centered on or connected with evidence-based behavioral HIV prevention interventions
(Many Men, Many Voices and d-up! Defend Yourself, www.effectiveinterventions.org, 2011)
17
developed and/or adapted for Black MSM. This reexamination will inform the process of
reassessing the current primary HIV prevention folio for seronegative Black MSM with the aim
of retooling or developing new tools and measures to work better with and within Black MSM
communities.
Timeline
Phase One

January 2011 – Focus groups of social service providers: one focus group of New York
City providers and one focus group of six to ten providers at the NAESM Black MSM
Conference

January 2011 – Literature review and key informant interview tool development

May to July 2011 – Hunter College IRB review and approval

September 2011 – Roundtable discussion at US Conference on AIDS

September 2011 – Key informant interview transcription and data analysis; roundtable
discussion at HIV Prevention Leadership Summit

August 2011 – Key informant recruitment and interviews
Phase Two
In Phase Two, using topic guides and online surveys based on findings from Phase One,
conduct:
i. Four 9-person focus groups of seronegative Black MSM in three age cohorts (2129, 30-39 and 40 and over) and one mixed-age cohort to control for different age
group experiences with the HIV epidemic, and to capture socially-influenced
responses in groups, and
ii. 50 online surveys to capture factors affecting those who access social networks
18
The first month of Project Year 1 (August) will be dedicated to preparation and planning
for all the year’s activities. Month two (September) will include recruitment of Black MSM for
individual interviews and online surveying. In months three to five (October-December),
recruitment of Black MSM for focus groups and online surveys will commence; as well as social
service providers for the focus group. The focus groups of Black MSM, individual interviews,
and online surveying will begin during this timeframe also. Months six through twelve will see
the conclusion of the interviews, online surveys, and focus groups; in addition to the analyses of
the qualitative and quantitative data.
Dissemination Plan
We will pursue formal and informal outlets for findings: peer-reviewed journals, national
and regional HIV prevention and public health conferences, community forums, HIV prevention
planning groups, newsletters, and webinars. Dissemination of the findings will:
a) enhance the current compendium of evidence-based interventions that have been
demonstrated to be effective for Black MSM
b) augment resources for or the creation of “tool kits” for HIV/AID social service providers
to support their non-IDU Black MSM clients’/consumers’ continued seronegativity
19
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