JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

African American young men who have sex with men (AAYMSM) possess many intersecting identities (e.g., sexual and gender identity, race, religion, and ethnicity) that may increase their vulnerability to social stigmatization and discrimination, which yields a negative influence on their well-being and behaviors. These experiences often manifest into increased general and sexual risk-taking behaviors that place this particular group at increased risk for HIV. This scenario is exacerbated by the lack of HIV prevention interventions designed specifically for AAYMSM.

Objective:

In this paper we discuss the development of research designed to refine, pilot and evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of a behavioral intervention designed to build resilience and reduce substance use and HIV transmission among AAYMSM. The overarching aim of this research, funded by the National Institutes of Health, is to further refine and pilot test an intervention, called Young Men’s Adult Identify Mentoring (YM-AIM). YM-AIM is a theory-driven, group-level intervention designed to help AAYMSM develop a healthy vision for their future (or “possible future self”) by defining a set of short- and long-term goals in the areas of education, health, family, and intimate relationships.

Methods:

With funding from the National Institutes of Health, given that YM-AIM was developed in 2011, we will further strengthen and refine YM-AIM to include three new components: 1) biomedical HIV prevention strategies (pre-exposure prophylaxis [PrEP], post-exposure prophylaxis [PEP]); 2) HIV/STI testing and HIV care referral, drug screening and drugs treatment referral; and 3) a youth mentoring component. We will recruit and divide AAYMSM, ages 18-24, into two working groups; each group will consist of 6-8 members and will convene on a weekly basis and each meeting will focus on one specific intervention topic (e.g., review of curricula, challenges and facilitators to HIV prevention, PrEP). This feedback will be used to further refine the intervention.

Results:

This new intervention, called Y2Prevent, will then be evaluated for its feasibility and acceptability. Intervention outcomes include drug use in past 30 days and 3 months, alcohol use, condomless sex, number of sex partners, and increasing condom use intention, condom use self-efficacy, HIV/STI testing recency and frequency, and linkage to care.

Conclusions:

Few youth-focused interventions have sought to help youth identify and develop the skills needed to navigate social and structural factors that contribute to individual-level engagement in prevention among sexual minority youth. This research seeks to promote young men’s adoption and maintenance of HIV protective behaviors (e.g., safer sex, PrEP use, HIV/STI testing, and healthcare utilization). Clinical Trial: Y2Prevent “Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04504981.”