HIV, Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Conditions
Brief summary
This project will first increase the accessibility and acceptability of rapid HIV testing in health clinics located in or near four low-income communities in San Salvador, El Salvador. The investigators will use crack users' social networks and small incentives, as recommended by the CDC, in collaboration with the Salvadoran Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS) to encourage crack users to receive HIV testing. The second part of the intervention consists of training 8 Peer Leaders to recruit and lead a Peer Network Intervention among 400 crack users to change norms supporting HIV protective behaviors. The intervention will include monthly meetings open to crack using and non-crack using community residents to reinforce HIV risk reduction skills, and discussion of other topics related to HIV such as illicit drug use and interpersonal violence and community-wide HIV awareness events. Our hypothesis is that these two intervention features will singly, and in combination, reduce HIV risk behaviors among Salvadoran crack users.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALSocial Network HIV Testing
Crack users will be recruited for HIV testing and receive 3 coupons to recruit other crack users for HIV testing.
BEHAVIORALPeer Network Intervention
Peer leaders will recruit small networks of crack users and facilitate a three-day prevention intervention.
Sponsors
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Medical College of Wisconsin
Study design
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* 18 years or older * used crack cocaine in the last 2 weeks
Exclusion criteria
* not giving informed consent * under 18 years of age * considered by research staff to be unfit or unable to give informed consent * engages in continued disruptive behavior while participating in the project * not using crack or cocaine in the last month
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Increased HIV testing rates among crack users | 24 months |
| Decreased number of sexual risk behaviors among crack users | 12 months |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Community and organizational factors associated with successful implementation of multi-level, community-based HIV prevention intervention | 12 months |
Countries
El Salvador
Outcome results
None listed