ISA ASSOCIATES INC — Department of Health and Human Services SBIR Phase I: NICHD

Description

DESCRIPTION provided by applicant One in Black men will be diagnosed with HIV in his lifetime as compared to in White men Approximately of all new HIV cases among African American men are due to heterosexual transmission Despite this Black men who have sex with women MSW have received very little empirical attention Traditional gender roles and power inequalities tend to give men greater control over sexual decision making in African American relationships However Black men do not routinely use condoms one of the most effective HIV prevention methods beyond abstinence during sex with women These findings suggest that the failure to target heterosexually active African American men in HIV prevention efforts is a missed opportunity A key barrier to male condom use is reduced sexual pleasure The female condom FC is an alternative HIV protection method that may overcome this barrier Research shows that Black women respond well to FC education but gender norms may impede their efforts to introduce FCs to male partners One way to overcome this roadblock is to provide FC training directly to men Indeed studies have shown that men can learn FC skills will help female partners use FC and report fewer unprotected sex partners after receiving FC and male condom training In addition men endorse several benefits to FC use including STI protection and natural feel Importantly some men prefer FCs because they provide greater sexual sensation than male condoms To harness the potential of FC training for Black MSW we intend to develop e focus a computer based HIV behavioral intervention for heterosexually active African American men that includes training in both male and female condom use e focus will web enable the core components of Focus on the Future FOF the only best evidence HIV behavioral intervention for high risk Black MSW FOF is a one hour intervention that addresses the correct and consistent use of male condoms and lubricant condom negotiation and the importance of men protecting their future The main message of FOF is that there are many types of condoms and lubricants and men should experiment to find the choice that make sex feel best By providing FC as an additional and sometimes preferred choice e focus aims to lessen the influence of decreased sexual pleasure and other condom barriers on HIV prevention Another obstacle to Black MSWandapos s HIV risk reduction behavior is belief in a traditional masculine ideology which emphasizes male sexual prowess female subordination and heterosexuality Black men who espouse these beliefs are more likely to engage in sexual risk behavior To combat this e focus will include a discussion of masculine identity and will provide methods to reframe potentially dangerous masculine beliefs into healthier sexual and relationship behaviors Phase I prototype development will be informed by formative research with target end users and African American women as well as input from our expert consultants The completed prototype will undergo usability testing and a prototype review with African American MSW seeking services at an HIV STI service provider PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE This project aims to develop a computer based HIV prevention program for African American men who have sex with women MSW that includes education and training about female and male condoms This project will allow clinics to provide an empirically validated HIV prevention intervention to their clients without creating additional demands on their already overburdened staff The skills contained in this program will help African American MSW reduce unprotected sex acts and ultimately prevent the spread of HIV by adding an additional barrier method the female condom to their arsenal of protection strategies