Community planning, HIV prevention, and a needs assessment for men who have sex with men: the South Beach Health Survey.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to plan for a series of culturally competent and sexually appropriate public health interventions for a highly mobile population of men who have sex with men (MSM).


OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey with a multistage probability sample of unmarried adult MSM living in households was conducted.


RESULTS
A total of 918 residential units were screened, 154 eligible men were identified, and 140 mostly white (56%) and Hispanic (34%) MSM (median=33.5 years old) were enrolled (90.9% response rate). Almost half (47%) reported engaging in unprotected anal intercourse in the previous 12 months. Drug use was common. Almost one third (31.0%) tested positive for the HIV antibody. Estimated annual incidence of HIV infection was 10.0%.


CONCLUSIONS
Population-based HIV antibody testing revealed a remarkably high annual incidence of HIV infection. A community-based organization was transformed to implement a social marketing campaign and provide other disease prevention services for MSM.
Webster
Robert D
RD
Department of Public Health, College of Health and Urban Affairs, Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33181-3600, USA.
Darrow
William W
WW
Paul
Jay P
JP
Roark
Randall A
RA
Taylor
Richard A
RA
Stempel
Robert R
RR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003153:Community Health Services; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006285:Health Planning; D006293:Health Promotion; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D015995:Prevalence