Short-term impact evaluation of a social marketing campaign to prevent syphilis among men who have sex with men.
OBJECTIVE
We carried out an independent short-term impact evaluation of a social marketing campaign designed to reduce syphilis infections among men who have sex with men in south Florida in 2004.


METHODS
Venue-based surveys were conducted shortly after the campaign began and 6 months later to assess changes in exposure to campaign materials, awareness, knowledge about syphilis, perceptions of risk, sexual behavior, clinic visits, and testing and treatment for syphilis among participants.


RESULTS
Exposure to social marketing campaign materials increased from 18.0% at baseline to 36.5% at follow-up (P< .001). Awareness of syphilis and perceptions of risk increased among Broward County residents but not among Miami-Dade County residents. Risky sexual practices and patterns of recreational drug use did not change. No significant increases in knowledge, clinic visits, or testing or treatment for syphilis among participants were detected over the 6-month study period.


CONCLUSIONS
None of the campaign objectives were fully met. The interventions were insufficient to produce a significant impact among men who have sex with men in south Florida.
Darrow
William W
WW
Department of Health Promotionand Disease Prevention at Robert R. Stempel School of Public Health, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151st St, TR-7, North Miami, FL 33181-3600, USA. darroww@fiu.edu
Biersteker
Susan
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005431:Florida; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D040241:Social Marketing; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D013587:Syphilis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission