HIV Prevention Within High-Risk Bulgarian and Hungarian Social Networks

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study will evaluate the effectiveness of peer-led HIV/sexually transmitted disease (STD)risk reduction educational counseling in reducing HIV risk behavior among the social networks of young men who have sex with men and Roma men and women in Bulgaria and Hungary.

Detailed Description
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HIV is spreading more rapidly in Eastern Europe than anywhere else in the world. Bulgaria and Hungary are still in the early stages of the crisis. However, without efforts to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS, both countries are likely to fall victim to the HIV/AIDS growth curve that has already affected the rest of Eastern Europe. Bulgarian and Hungarian young men who have sex with men (YMSM) and Roma men and women are at the greatest risk for HIV infection. In both countries, HIV is spread primarily through sexual transmission. Prevention efforts that are undertaken now could help these countries avoid an explosive HIV/AIDS epidemic. YMSM and Roma men in Bulgaria and Hungary are more likely to trust HIV/AIDS information received from someone they know than from an official statement. Therefore, entire social networks will be recruited for this study and the leader of each network will be responsible for delivering the prevention information to his or her peers. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of peer-led HIV/STD risk reduction educational counseling in reducing HIV risk behavior among the social networks of YMSM and Roma men and women in Bulgaria and Hungary. This study will recruit 40 YMSM and 40 Roma high-risk social networks. Each network will be randomly assigned to receive either standard HIV/AIDS risk reduction or the intervention. Networks assigned to receive the intervention will be assessed sociometrically to determine the 'social influence' leaders of each group. The leaders will then attend a 9-session program over the course of 3 months that will train them to deliver theory-based risk-reduction messages and peer-counseling to their respective social networks. The messages will focus on promoting safer sex knowledge, attitudes, intentions, perceived norms, and self-efficacy. All participants will be offered STD testing and their HIV-risk behavior will be assessed at Months 3 and 12. Participants assigned to receive the standard HIV/AIDS risk reduction will then receive the network intervention for an additional 12 months.

Official Title
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HIV Prevention Within High-Risk Social Networks

Conditions
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HIV Infections

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Social Network Intervention


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: At least 50% of social network members complete baseline assessments At least 50% of assessed members of a social network report unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse outside of a mutually monogamous relationship in the 6 months prior to study entry Exclusion Criteria: Does not meet inclusion criteria

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 15 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Factorial Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Intervention/Treatment |
| --- |
|Behavioral: Social Network Intervention|nan|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reductions in the prevalence and frequency of unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse |  | Months 3 and 12 post intervention | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lower incidence of sexually transmitted diseases |  | Months 3 and 12 post intervention | 
| Change in AIDS-related scales |  | Months 3 and 12 post intervention | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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HIV, Prevention, Risk Behavior Reduction, Roma, Bulgaria, HIV seronegativity