Appalachian Partnership to Reduce Disparities (Aim 2)

Not Applicable

Recruiting

Brief Summary: By combining two strategies (i.e., peer navigation and mHealth) into a complete, culturally compatible, bilingual intervention to increase the use of needed HIV, STI, and HCV prevention and care services among racially/ethnically diverse GBMSM and transgender women in rural Appalachia.

Study Investigators anticipate that participants in the intervention group, relative to counterparts in the delayed-intervention group, will demonstrate increased HIV, STI, and HCV testing.

Detailed Description: This CBPR study will advance prevention science and practice through testing an innovative intervention to promote and support the use of needed HIV, STI, and HCV prevention and care services among GBMSM and transgender women; and developing priorities and recommendations to improve their health that will be disseminated to inform public health practice, research, and policy. By integrating peer navigation and mHealth strategies, the proposed study provides a unique opportunity to improve health among vulnerable, hidden, and neglected populations living in rural Appalachia. Findings from this research may inform strategies and approaches to address other health disparities in other rural populations.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

reside in one of the rural Appalachian catchment countiesreside in one of the rural Appalachian catchment counties
be ≥18 years of age
report being assigned male sex at birth and having had sex with at least 1 man in past 12 months
provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
intervention group	Peer Navigation	7 community health leaders; 56 social network members
intervention group	mHealth	7 community health leaders; 56 social network members
delayed-intervention	Peer Navigation	7 community health leaders; 56 social network members
delayed-intervention	mHealth	7 community health leaders; 56 social network members

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Number of participants who have HCV testing	12-month follow-up (24 months post-baseline)
Number of participants who have Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) testing	baseline
Number of participants who have HIV testing	12-month follow-up (24 months post-baseline)
Number of participants who have Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) testing	baseline
Number of participants who have Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) testing	baseline
Number of participants who have STI testing	12-month follow-up (24 months post-baseline)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Number of participants who use HIV care services	baseline, immediate post-intervention (12 months post-baseline), and 12-month follow-up (24 months post-baseline).	Measured through self-report and medical chart abstraction
Number of participants who use prevention--Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)	baseline, immediate post-intervention (12 months post-baseline), and 12-month follow-up (24 months post-baseline).
Number of participants who use prevention--syringe services	baseline, immediate post-intervention (12 months post-baseline), and 12-month follow-up (24 months post-baseline).
Number of participants who use STI treatment services	baseline, immediate post-intervention (12 months post-baseline), and 12-month follow-up (24 months post-baseline).	Measured through self-report and medical chart abstraction
Number of participants who use gender-affirming care services	baseline, immediate post-intervention (12 months post-baseline), and 12-month follow-up (24 months post-baseline).	Measured through self-report and medical chart abstraction
Number of participants who use HCV treatment services	baseline, immediate post-intervention (12 months post-baseline), and 12-month follow-up (24 months post-baseline).	Measured through self-report and medical chart abstraction

Locations (1): Wake Forest University Health Sciences
🇺🇸
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States