A pilot clustered randomized control trial evaluating the efficacy of a network-based HIV peer-education intervention targeting men who have sex with men in Hong Kong, China

Lau, Joseph T. F.; Tsui, Hi Yi; Lau, Mason M. C.

doi:10.1080/09540121.2012.749330

Cited by 28 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…A small-scale, test-of-concept network intervention RCT was carried out in Hong Kong, China [44••]. In the study, eight “peer educators” were recruited, randomized to intervention or control conditions, and then asked to recruit 5 to 10 MSM friends, who in turn were also asked to recruit their own friends.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Networks, Sexual Networks and HIV Risk in Men Who Have Sex with Men

2014

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Worldwide, men who have sex with men (MSM) remain one of the most HIV-vulnerable community populations. A global public health priority is developing new methods of reaching MSM, understanding HIV transmission patterns, and intervening to reduce their risk. Increased attention is being given to the role that MSM networks play in HIV epidemiology. This review of MSM network research studies demonstrates that: (1) Members of the same social network often share similar norms, attitudes, and HIV risk behavior levels; (2) Network interventions are feasible and powerful for reducing unprotected sex and potentially for increasing HIV testing uptake; (3) HIV vulnerability among African American MSM increases when an individual enters a high-risk sexual network characterized by high density and racial homogeneity; and (4) Networks are primary sources of social support for MSM, particularly for those living with HIV, with greater support predicting higher care uptake and adherence.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Networks, Sexual Networks and HIV Risk in Men Who Have Sex with Men

2014

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“…There are similar data from non-refugee communities, where HIV-infected individuals have been shown to engage in high rates of prevention advocacy within their social networks (Ssali, Wagner, Tumwine, Nannungi, & Green, 2012). Similarly, peer-driven educational campaigns have successfully encouraged testing in non-refugee populations (Lau, Tsui, & Lau, 2012) and have identified a higher prevalence of HIV-infected patients compared to general testing strategies (Kimbrough et al, 2009). It has been suggested that when providers can personalize the risks of HIV, uptake of testing is improved (Obermeyer & Osborn, 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of social support on HIV testing and treatment adherence: A qualitative study of HIV-infected refugees in southwestern Uganda

Rouhani

O’Laughlin

Faustin

et al. 2016

Global Public Health

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Little is known about the factors that encourage or discourage refugees to test for HIV, or to access and adhere to HIV care. In non-refugee populations, social support has been shown to influence HIV testing and utilization of services. The present study enrolled HIV-infected refugees on anti-retroviral therapy (ART) in Uganda, who participated in qualitative interviews on HIV testing, treatment, and adherence. Interviews were analyzed for themes about four types of social support: emotional, informational, instrumental and appraisal support. A total of 61 interviews were analyzed. Four roles for these types of social support were identified: (1) informational support encouraged refugees to test for HIV; (2) emotional support helped refugees cope with a diagnosis of HIV; (3) instrumental support facilitated adherence to ART and (4) after diagnosis, HIV-infected refugees provided informational and emotional support to encourage other refugees to test for HIV. These results suggest that social support influences HIV testing and treatment among refugees. Future interventions should capitalize on social support within a refugee settlement to facilitate testing and treatment.

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“…Second, the existence of pre-existing contacts between recruiter and referral makes it possible to use peer- driven interventions to reach MSM in these networks, as has been done previously in a wide range of settings (although at perhaps a slower recruitment rate than in Western cities). [25][26][27] Third, the personal network sizes imply that organisation (and presumably social support of other MSM) is present in the MSM community and may also be used to facilitate STI/HIV and community interventions in MSM in large and smaller sub-Saharan African cities. Our data also showed similarities with other RDS data from MSM in sub-Saharan Africa.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social networks of men who have sex with men and their implications for HIV/STI interventions: results from a cross-sectional study using respondent-driven sampling in a large and a small city in Tanzania

et al. 2016

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ObjectiveMen who have sex with men (MSM) in sub-Saharan Africa remain hidden and hard to reach for involvement in HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) services. The aim of the current study was to describe MSM social networks in a large and a small Tanzanian city in order to explore their utility for peer-based healthcare interventions.MethodsData were collected through respondent-driven sampling (RDS) in Dar es Salaam (n=197) and in Tanga (n=99) in 2012 and 2013, using 5 and 4 seeds, respectively. All results were adjusted for RDS sampling design.ResultsMean personal network size based on the number of MSM who were reported by the participants, as known to them was 12.0±15.5 in Dar es Salaam and 7.6±8.1 in Tanga. Mean actual RDS network size was 39.4±31.4 in Dar es Salaam and 25.3±9.7 in Tanga. A majority (97%) reported that the person from whom they received the recruitment coupon was a sexual partner, close friend or acquaintance. Homophile in recruitment patterns (selective affiliation) was present for age, gay openness, and HIV status in Dar es Salaam, and for sexual identification in Tanga.ConclusionsThe personal network sizes and existence of contacts between recruiter and referral indicate that it is possible to use peer-driven interventions to reach MSM for HIV/STI interventions in larger and smaller sub-Saharan African cities. The study was reviewed and approved by the University of Texas Health Science Center's Institutional Review Board (HSC-SPH-10-0033) and the Tanzanian National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR/HQ/R.8a/Vol. IX/1088).

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A pilot clustered randomized control trial evaluating the efficacy of a network-based HIV peer-education intervention targeting men who have sex with men in Hong Kong, China

Cited by 28 publications

References 40 publications

Social Networks, Sexual Networks and HIV Risk in Men Who Have Sex with Men

Social Networks, Sexual Networks and HIV Risk in Men Who Have Sex with Men

The role of social support on HIV testing and treatment adherence: A qualitative study of HIV-infected refugees in southwestern Uganda

Social networks of men who have sex with men and their implications for HIV/STI interventions: results from a cross-sectional study using respondent-driven sampling in a large and a small city in Tanzania

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