C2P - Phase III: MPowerment and Community Promise
Condition: HIV Infections
MeSH terms: HIV Infections
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      One of the objectives of the C2P coalition is the successful delivery of a CDC-endorsed
      community-level HIV prevention program aimed at changing the risk profiles of youth. This
      protocol (ATN 041) describes the program, Community PROMISE (Peers Reaching Out and Modeling
      Intervention Strategies) or MPowerment, and plans for adapting and implementing it. There are
      a total of 4 interventions that a community can implement.
    

Detailed description: 
      Community Promise: Role model stories comprise the "heart" of printed materials distributed
      throughout the target community. The role model stories are brief publications that depict
      personal accounts from individuals in the population of focus who have made or are planning
      to make a risk-reducing behavioral change. The messages in the role model stories are
      reinforced by interpersonal communication with trained peer advocates.

      MPowerment: is a community level HIV/STD prevention program that relies on peer advocates
      from the community to lead outreach activities including discussion groups (M-groups),
      venue-based outreach, social events and a publicity campaign. Sites will adapt MPowerment for
      local use remaining faithful to the core elements.
    

Intervention name(s): Printed materials; Peer advocates
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Behavioral
Intervention description(s): Role model stories comprise the "heart" of printed materials distributed throughout the target community. The role model stories are brief publications that depict personal accounts from individuals in the population of focus who have made or are planning to make a risk-reducing behavioral change. Depending on the population they are meant to reach and what behavior they are trying to influence, the stories may include examples of people who now carry condoms with them, talked to a partner about condom use, use condoms consistently, avoid sharing needles, or exhibited other risk reduction behaviors.; Core Element 1 Core group of young gay men and additional volunteers recruited from the community. The core group and volunteers comprise the "peer advocates" who design and carry out all program activities.
Core Element 2 Designated space where most social events and meetings are held; also serves as a drop in center where young men can meet and socialize during specified hours.
Core Element 3 Social events to attract young gay men and to promote safer sex. Core Element 4 Teams of young gay men go to locations frequented by young gay men to discuss and promote safer sex, deliver appealing informational literature on HIV risk reduction and distribute condoms.
Core Element 5 Meetings of eight to 10 young gay men to discuss factors contributing to unsafe sex among men. Men practice safer sex negotiation and correct condom use skills.
Core Element 6 Publicity campaigns that attract men to the program by word of mouth and through articles and advertisements in gay newspapers.
Other intervention name(s): No other names.; There are no other names.
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Prevention
Keywords: YMSM; HIV/AIDS; Condom use; Drug users; Minority women