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

A social network HIV testing pilot project for MSM (Action TO Mobilize Change, ATOMC) was recently funded by the Public Health Department of the Health and Social Services Agency of Montreal. The pilot project is based on work done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention using social network strategies to increase HIV testing among HIV vulnerable populations. The project has the funds to adequately coordinate and implement the intervention but insufficient resources (expertise and financial) to permit the development of a data base, data entry and detailed analyses to be able to document the effectiveness of the project. Ultimately, this reseach will answer the question: are social network strategies useful for affecting HIV testing behaviours among MSM. Specifically, will more at-risk men and men not aware their diagnosis be identified and received voluntary HIV counselling and testing in Montreal. Knowledge generated from this thorough evaluation will enable the development a larger grant wherein social network strategies could be used for other at-risk populations including people who use injection drug, street-involved youth and people representing ethnocultural minorities.