An innovative online intervention tool has shown promise in promoting HIV/STI prevention behaviors among YGBMSM as they meet partners online.
HIV Prevention Intervention Benefits Young Transgender Women
Project LifeSkills – New intervention for reducing condomless sex acts among young transgender women through sharing information about HIV, motivating people to protect themselves and promoting skills such as condom use and sexual partner communication and negotiation.
Project LifeSkills – New intervention for reducing condomless sex acts among young transgender women through sharing information about HIV, motivating people to protect themselves and promoting skills such as condom use and sexual partner communication and negotiation.
‘Preliminary results suggest that the YGBMSM who used myDEx reported greater trends in sexual risk reduction, improvements in HIV prevention behaviors.
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More than 67 percent of all new HIV infections in the United States in 2016 occurred as a result of transmission through sexual contact among men who have sex with men (MSM). Young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (YGBMSM) are particularly at risk, accounting for 81 percent of new HIV infections among people ages 13 to 24.
YGBMSM's risks for HIV coincide with developmental milestones as they transition into adulthood, including their exploration and pursuit of sexual and romantic relationships. At present, many of those explorations take place over the Internet, as evidenced by the increasing use and popularity of social networking and dating sites.
HIV Prevention: Bridging the Gap Between Research and Impact
Immense research is available on HIV prevention. However, more research is needed on both technology development and building systems to create a demand for all the available effective prevention tools.
Immense research is available on HIV prevention. However, more research is needed on both technology development and building systems to create a demand for all the available effective prevention tools.
"Preliminary results suggest that the YGBMSM who used myDEx reported greater trends in sexual risk reduction, improvements in HIV prevention behaviors, and noted positive changes in their emotional and cognitive decision-making," said Bauermeister.
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UNAIDS Urges Countries to Tackle HIV Prevention Crisis Boldly
The Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) at the ongoing 22nd International AIDS Conference has urged countries to take bold action to address the HIV prevention crisis.
The Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) at the ongoing 22nd International AIDS Conference has urged countries to take bold action to address the HIV prevention crisis.
Compared to those in the control group, participants who used myDEx reported that the intervention made it easier to live a healthier life, found the intervention provided useful HIV prevention information, helped them make better choices about relationships, improved their communication skills, and improved their ability to meet the type of partner they look for.
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Antibodies Show Effectiveness for HIV Prevention
Combinations of three broadly neutralizing antibodies have yielded promising results in animal models of HIV prevention.
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Because YGBMSM often rely on the internet to meet sexual partners and refine their sexual and romantic interests, Bauermeister and his team focused on developing myDEx as an online tool.
"Online-delivered HIV prevention interventions present a number of advantages, including opportunities to tailor content specific to each user's HIV risk behaviors and context, to present material through different modes and interactive features, to access content from any location convenient to a participant, and to standardize its delivery in order to achieve higher intervention fidelity," he explains.
Source-Eurekalert
