Grant: Catalyst Grant: HIV/AIDS CBR Program - General Stream

Existing HIV prevention programs for gay and other Men who have Sex with men (MSM) Latino populations do not meet current needs. Among the MSM, Latino MSM are the second ethnic group most affected by HIV in Canada. MSM are also the most HIV affected group in Latin America, including Colombia. In Canada, there is only one community-based prevention strategy developed by and for Latino gay and other MSM (Mano en Mano, MeM). However, MeM has only been implemented in Toronto. On the other hand, there is no other community-based intervention for gay and other MSM populations in Colombia. Hence, the objective of this project is to extend MeM to other gay and MSM groups in Canada and Colombia. To achieve this we plan to execute the following activities: 1) To hold meetings with former and current MeM trainees and HIV experts to define adjustments to MeM and incorporation of new tools into it. 2) To deliver MeM sessions to a group of 20 gay and MSM individuals in Colombia in order to evaluate its content, messages, concepts and materials and to determine what adaptation are required for the Colombian context. After completing activities 1 and 2, we will 3) implement the adapted version of MeM in a convenient sample of 80 gay and other MSM in three locations: London and Niagara, Canada, and Cali, Colombia. During this activity, we will evaluate the process and the effects of MeM in regard to increasing self-efficacy, promoting critical awareness and empowerment, providing HIV/STIs information, and reducing individuals isolation, and increasing safe sex practices.