National Institute of Mental Health 5K23MH136873-02

Engaging men outside the HIV prevention paradigm in rural South Africa

A NIH grant awarded to Massachusetts General Hospital to develop and evaluate community-based HIV prevention interventions targeting men in rural South Africa, focusing on men with substance use issues and addressing barriers to service uptake.

Description

This project addresses critical gaps in the uptake of HIV prevention services among men in South Africa, particularly men with alcohol and substance use who are at increased risk for HIV acquisition. Despite advances in HIV care availability, disparities in service utilization exist due to factors like traditional masculinity norms, migratory work patterns, and perceptions that healthcare facilities are primarily for women. The project aims to design and evaluate a community-based intervention to be more accessible and aligned with the needs and preferences of men using substances. The long-term goal is to develop interventions that better engage men in HIV prevention efforts in South Africa. The NIH K23 Mentored Research Career Development Award will support skill development in qualitative data collection and analysis, intervention design informed by preference elicitation methods and behavioral theory, and implementation and evaluation of community-based interventions.

View original record