Recruiting Black Men Who Have Sex with Men and Women (BMSMW) in an Urban Setting for HIV Prevention Research

Abstract

ObjectivesConcerns related to stigma and confidentiality limit HIV-related study recruitment and retention of Black men who have sex with men and women (MSMW). This paper examines lessons learned from recruitment strategies utilized in enrolling 437 participants between 2007 and 2011 for a randomized controlled trial to test a culturally specific HIV risk-reduction intervention for Black MSMW.MethodsInterested respondents completed a brief screener and participants completed surveys at baseline and at post, 3 and 6 months follow-up. Recruitment patterns were assessed by examining the source of study information reported when respondents were asked how they learned about the study. Chi-square tests were then conducted to examine differences in the distribution of participants by self-reported HIV status, age group and socio-economic status (SES) for each type of study information source.ResultsRegardless of HIV or SES, study respondents were more likely to have received information about the study through a service agency than from other sources. Participants ages 30–49 and 50+ years were most likely to have learned about the study from an agency (34.9% and 27.0%, respectively) or another participant/friend (20.1%, 23.1%) and least likely to have found out from bus (0.8%, 0.0%) or radio (1.3%, 0.0%) advertisements; whereas younger participants were more likely to have heard about the study through a friend/participant (23.4%) than an agency (15.4%). Although, 14.1% of participants’ ages less than 30 years reported the Internet as their source of study information, this compared to just 2.7% and 4.8% for participants in the 30–49 and 50-plus age groups.ConclusionsWhile agencies and referrals from personal networks appear to be the most significant recruitment source for potential HIV research participants, there is evidence that Internet based tools may enhance recruitment, particularly among younger Black MSMW.

HIV Acquisition and Transmission Potential Among African American Men Who Have Sex with Men and Women in Three U.S. Cities

“…As with other studies with this population (Asare Bempong, Ramamurthi, McCuller, Williams, & Harawa, 2014;, we recruited a sample characterized by economic vulnerability -low employment and income, frequent substance use and exchange sex. The monetary incentives for participation and for recruitment may have been more compelling to those with less resources and more time due to lack of formal employment.…”

Subsequent Sexual Risks Among Men Who Have Sex with Men May Differ by Sex of First Partner and Age at Sexual Debut: A Cross-Sectional Study in Beijing, China

“…Studies in the U.S. also reported high prevalence of bisexuality, particularly among black MSM [33, 34]. As the capital of China, Beijing attracts migrants, including MSM, for better employment opportunity and living condition [35].…”

Conducting Anonymous, Incentivized, Online Surveys With Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents: Lessons Learned From a National Polyvictimization Study

“…Videos can serve to enhance adolescent engagement by featuring age-relevant peers discussing, in their own language, the importance of the research study. Seeing people with similar identities represented in the videos and other recruitment materials can help members of marginalized communities feel more comfortable and ready to participate in the research process (Bempong, 2015;Hendrickson, 2007;Woods, Montgomery, & Herring, 2004). In addition, videos can vividly illustrate components of the research process (e.g., how distress prompts function) that may otherwise be uninteresting or confusing.…”