Barbershop Talk With Brothers: Using Community-Based Participatory Research to Develop and Pilot Test a Program to Reduce HIV Risk Among Black Heterosexual Men

Abstract

There is a need for feasible, evidence-based interventions that support HIV risk reduction among heterosexual Black men. In this article, we describe the process for development of the Barbershop Talk With Brothers (BTWB) program and evaluation. The BTWB program is a theoretically grounded and community-based HIV prevention program that seeks to improve individual skills and motivation to decrease sexual risk, and that builds men’s interest in and capacity for improving their community’s health. Formative data collection included barbershop observations and barber focus groups, brief behavioral risk assessments of men in barbershops, and focus groups and individual interviews. Based on this information and in consultation with our steering committee, we developed the BTWB program and accompanying program evaluation. From April through November 2011, 80 men were recruited and completed a baseline assessment of a pilot test of the program; 78 men completed the program and 71 completed a 3-month assessment. The pilot evaluation procedures were feasible to implement, and assessments of pre- and post-test measures indicate that key behavioral outcomes and proposed mediators of those outcomes changed in hypothesized directions. Specifically, attitudes and self-efficacy toward consistent condom use improved, and respondents reported lower levels of sexual risk behavior from baseline to follow-up (all p < 0.05). Perceptions of community empowerment also increased (p = 0.06). While HIV stigma decreased, this difference did not reach statistical significance. Our approach to community-engaged program development resulted in an acceptable, feasible approach to reaching and educating heterosexual Black men about HIV prevention in community settings.

Adolescent Reproductive Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs and Future Fatherhood

“…[33] Clinics outside of a school setting specifically designed to target young men, such as the Young Men’s Clinic at New York-Presbyterian, [34] may also serve as a base from which to provide interventions. Community-based programming has proven effective in addressing HIV risk reduction, [35] and may be a useful approach for addressing men’s’ reproductive KAB.…”

Barriers and Facilitators toward HIV Testing and Health Perceptions among African-American Men Who Have Sex with Women at a South Side Chicago Community Health Center: A Pilot Study

“…Community sites similar to Project Brotherhood have been shown to improve health literacy among AA men with low socioeconomic status, and other interventions targeting sexual health risk behaviors among AA MSW have been shown to be effective when based in community sites such as barbershops (30). In terms of implications for future interventions, our study suggests the need for continued focus on educating AA MSW about their increased risk for HIV.…”

A Survey of African American Men in Chicago Barbershops: Implications for the Effectiveness of the Barbershop Model in the Health Promotion of African American Men

“…There are many examples of effective medical health screenings and education in the barbershops [19,20,29,30] Fig. 3 The age distribution of clients that barbers believe they can most influence persuasive communication, the use of barbers as community mental health workers should be explored.…”

“…According to Releford et al [13], ''practitioners and others have postulated that barbershops, through their established credibility as forums for in-depth discussions, information gathering, and the relaying of shared experiences, provide an opportune venue for health outreach to AA men, a traditionally marginalized population.'' The barbershop model was established in the 1980s and has since been one of the leading models in effectively addressing a myriad of health issues among AA men ranging from HIV/AIDS, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and cardiovascular diseases [13,19,20]. A recent study demonstrates the ability of trained barbers to improve blood pressure control for hypertensive Black men [21].…”

“…Research shows that barbershops are an effective venue for health promotion and that barbers are willing to participate in health education activities [20]. However, an analysis of the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of barbers and men served in barbershops has never been performed.…”