HealthMpowerment.org: Building Community Though a Mobile-Optimized, Online Health Promotion Intervention.
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Date
2015-01-15
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Abstract
Background Both young Black men who have sex with men as well as young Black transgender women YBMSM TW continue to experience a significant increase in HIV incidence HealthMpowerment org HMP is a mobile phone optimized online intervention for both YBMSM TW to build community and facilitate supportive relationships Methods To assess the feasibility acceptability and preliminary outcomes a 1 month pilot trial of HMP among 15 YBMSM TW was conducted Results Retention was 100 Mean age was 26 years 60 were HIV infected 87 earned Under 21 000 and 67 were uninsured Despite the small sample size and limited intervention length statistically significant improvements were seen in social support p 012 social isolation p 050 and depressive symptoms p 045 Conclusion The HMP pilot trial demonstrated feasibility and acceptability Given the burden of the epidemic among YBMSM TW there is an imperative to develop test and scale up culturally appropriate interventions to both prevent HIV acquisition and limit onward transmission