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Effects of a social network HIV/STD prevention intervention for MSM in Russia and Hungary: a randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT: To test a novel social network HIV risk-reduction intervention for MSM in Russia and Hungary, where same-sex behavior is stigmatized and men may best be reached through their social network connections.A two-arm trial with 18 sociocentric networks of MSM randomized to the social network intervention or standard HIV/STD testing/counseling.St. Petersburg, Russia and Budapest, Hungary.Eighteen 'seeds' from community venues invited the participation of their MSM friends who, in turn, invited their own MSM friends into the study, a process that continued outward until eighteen three-ring sociocentric networks (mean size?=?35 members, n?=?626) were recruited.Empirically identified network leaders were trained and guided to convey HIV prevention advice to other network members.Changes in sexual behavior from baseline to 3-month and 12-month follow-up, with composite HIV/STD incidence, measured at 12 months to corroborate behavior changes.There were significant reductions between baseline, first follow-up, and second follow-up in the intervention versus comparison arm for proportion of men engaging in any unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) (P?=?0.04); UAI with a nonmain partner (P?=?0.04); and UAI with multiple partners (P?=?0.002). The mean percentage of unprotected anal intercourse acts significantly declined (P?=?0.001), as well as the mean number of UAI acts among men who initially had multiple partners (P?=?0.05). Biological HIV/STD incidence was 15% in comparison condition networks and 9% in intervention condition networks.Even where same-sex behavior is stigmatized, it is possible to reach MSM and deliver HIV prevention through their social networks.

SUBMITTER: Amirkhanian YA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4497559 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Effects of a social network HIV/STD prevention intervention for MSM in Russia and Hungary: a randomized controlled trial.

Amirkhanian Yuri A YA Kelly Jeffrey A JA Takacs Judit J McAuliffe Timothy L TL Kuznetsova Anna V AV Toth Tamas P TP Mocsonaki Laszlo L DiFranceisco Wayne J WJ Meylakhs Anastasia A

AIDS (London, England) 20150301 5

<h4>Objective</h4>To test a novel social network HIV risk-reduction intervention for MSM in Russia and Hungary, where same-sex behavior is stigmatized and men may best be reached through their social network connections.<h4>Design</h4>A two-arm trial with 18 sociocentric networks of MSM randomized to the social network intervention or standard HIV/STD testing/counseling.<h4>Setting</h4>St. Petersburg, Russia and Budapest, Hungary.<h4>Participants</h4>Eighteen 'seeds' from community venues invite ...[more]

PMID: 25565495

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Dataset Information

Effects of a social network HIV/STD prevention intervention for MSM in Russia and Hungary: a randomized controlled trial.

Publications

Effects of a social network HIV/STD prevention intervention for MSM in Russia and Hungary: a randomized controlled trial.

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