Three-year follow-up of an HIV risk-reduction intervention that used popular peers.

Lawrence, Janet S. St.; Brasfield, Ted L.; Diaz, Y E; Jefferson, Kennis W.; Reynolds, Makaria; Leonard, Madeline

doi:10.2105/ajph.84.12.2027

Cited by 32 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…(9,10) Peer-led HIV interventions, which train peer health educators to deliver community-based HIV prevention information, have increased condom use and decreased unprotected anal intercourse, with sustained behavior change up to 3 years later. (11,12) Researchers have proposed using online technologies as tools to rapidly and cost-effectively deliver peer-led HIV prevention among at-risk populations. (13–15) Addressing at-risk populations of Internet and social media users is especially important as Internet sex-seekers may be at increased HIV risk.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The HOPE social media intervention for global HIV prevention in Peru: a cluster randomised controlled trial

et al. 2015

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Background Social media technologies are newly emerging tools that can be used for HIV prevention and testing in low- and middle-income countries, such as Peru. This study examined the efficacy of using the Harnessing Online Peer Education (HOPE) social media intervention to increase HIV testing among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Peru. Methods In a cluster randomized controlled trial with concealed allocation, Peruvian MSM from Greater Lima/Callao (N = 556) were randomly assigned to join private intervention or control groups on Facebook for 12 weeks. In the intervention condition, forty-nine Peruvian MSM were trained and randomly assigned to be HIV prevention mentors to participants via Facebook groups over 12 weeks. Control participants received an enhanced standard of care, including standard offline HIV prevention available in Peru as well as participation in Facebook groups (without peer leaders) that provided study updates and HIV testing information. After accepting a request to join the groups, continued participation was voluntary. Participants could request a free HIV test at a local community clinic, and completed questionnaires on HIV risk behaviors and social media use at baseline and 12-week follow-up. Findings Between March 19, 2012, and June 11, 2012, and Sept 26, 2012, and Dec 19, 2012, 556 participants were randomly assigned to intervention groups (N=278) or control groups (N=278); we analyse data for 252 and 246. 43 participants (17%) in the intervention group and 16 (7%) in the control groups got tested for HIV (adjusted odds ratio 2.61, 95% CI 1.55–4.38). No adverse events were reported. Retention at 12-week follow-up was 90%. Across conditions, 7 (87.5%) of the 8 participants who tested positive were linked to care at a local clinic. Interpretation Development of peer-mentored social media communities seemed to be an effective method to increase HIV testing among high-risk populations in Peru.: Results suggest that the HOPE social media HIV intervention may improve HIV testing rates among MSM in Peru. Funding National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH MH090844)

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The HOPE social media intervention for global HIV prevention in Peru: a cluster randomised controlled trial

et al. 2015

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“…Trained opinion leaders delivered the intervention in gay bars and communities. There were substantial and sustained declines in reported HIV risk behaviors in the intervention communities (Kelly et al, 1991, 1992, 1997; St. Lawrence et al, 1994).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Participation and diffusion effects of a peer-intervention for HIV prevention among adults in rural Malawi

Crittenden

Kaponda

Jere

et al. 2015

Social Science & Medicine

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This paper examines whether a peer group intervention that reduced self-reported risky behaviors for rural adults in Malawi also had impacts on non-participants in the same communities. We randomly assigned two districts to the intervention and control conditions, and conducted surveys at baseline and 18 months post-intervention using unmatched independent random samples of intervention and control communities in 2003-2006. The six-session peer group intervention was offered to same-gender groups by trained volunteers. In this analysis, we divided the post-intervention sample into three exposure groups: 243 participants and 170 non-participants from the intervention district (total n=415) and 413 control individuals. Controlling for demographics and participation, there were significant favorable diffusion effects on five partially overlapping behavioral outcomes: partner communication, ever used condoms, unprotected sex, recent HIV test, and a community HIV prevention index. Non-participants in the intervention district had more favorable outcomes on these behaviors than survey respondents in the control district. One behavioral outcome, community HIV prevention, showed both participation and diffusion effects. Participating in the intervention had a significant effect on six psychosocial outcomes: HIV knowledge (two measures), hope, condom attitudes, and self-efficacy for community HIV prevention and for safer sex; there were no diffusion effects. This pattern of results suggests that the behavioral changes promoted in the intervention spread to others in the same community, most likely through direct contact between participants and non-participants. These findings support the idea that diffusion of HIV-related behavior changes can occur for peer group interventions in communities, adding to the body of research supporting diffusion of innovations theory as a robust approach to accelerating change. If diffusion occurs, peer group intervention may be more cost-effective than previously realized. Wider implementation of peer group interventions can help meet the global goal of reducing new HIV infections.

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“…Peer health interventions have been successfully used in areas as diverse as bicycle safety 6 , drug prevention 7 , and sexual attitudes and behaviors 3 . For example, a peer leader intervention aimed to reduce sexual risk behaviors resulted in increasing condom use up to 16% and decreasing unprotected anal intercourse up to 25%, with sustained behavior change seen at follow-up up to 3 years later 8, 9 . While these studies suggest that peer leader community-based interventions are effective in promoting health behavior change, researchers are looking for cost-effective alternatives because community-based health interventions can require considerable time and money.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feasibility of recruiting peer educators for an online social networking-based health intervention

Young

Harrell²,

Jaganath³

et al. 2012

Health Education Journal

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Objective This study aims to determine the feasibility of recruiting peer leaders to deliver a community-based health intervention using social media. Method We recruited sixteen African American and Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) as peer leaders for either an HIV prevention or general health intervention using social media. Inclusion criteria required that peer leaders were African American or Latino MSM health communication experts experienced using social media. To receive certification, peer leaders attended 3 training sessions on using social media for public health. Questionnaires asking about health knowledge and comfort using social media to discuss health-related topics were provided at baseline and post-training to ensure that peer leaders were qualified post-training. Repeated measures ANOVA models and χ2 tests tested for differences in peer leader knowledge and comfort using social media pre- and post-training. Results After training, peer leaders were significantly more comfortable using social media to discuss sexual positions. There were no significant differences pre- and post-training on other comfort or knowledge measures, as at baseline, almost all peer leaders were already comfortable using social media. Conclusion Results suggest that peer leaders can be recruited who are qualified to conduct health interventions without needing additional training. The discussed training plan can further ensure that any unqualified peer leaders will be prepared after training. To our knowledge, this is the first study to suggest that peer leaders can be recruited as peer health educators to communicate using social media.

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Three-year follow-up of an HIV risk-reduction intervention that used popular peers.

Cited by 32 publications

References 3 publications

The HOPE social media intervention for global HIV prevention in Peru: a cluster randomised controlled trial

The HOPE social media intervention for global HIV prevention in Peru: a cluster randomised controlled trial

Participation and diffusion effects of a peer-intervention for HIV prevention among adults in rural Malawi

Feasibility of recruiting peer educators for an online social networking-based health intervention

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