2014: CHALO:A pilot study to assess efficacy of safer sex messages on internet outreach programme with Einstein University – New York
CHALO was a pilot research study to develop and test the feasibility and acceptability of a social media (SM) based HIV prevention intervention to increase consistent condom use and linkage to care for HIV testing and other services at The Humsafar Trust
Funding Agency: Einstein School of Medicine, New York
Study Partners: Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York
Objectives: The objective of this research was to build on Humsafar’s current SM-based peer outreach efforts to develop and evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a SM-based HIV prevention intervention targeting consistent condom use and linkage-to-care for health services at HST. Our central hypothesis was that conducting peer-driven social media outreach can efficiently identify and reach an otherwise hard-to-reach Indian MSM population, modify risk behaviors, and motivate individuals to seek in-person health services at a MSM safe-space.
- To develop CHALO! (‘Let’s Go!’), a theory guided SM-based intervention to increase consistent condom use and HIV testing and support services in MSM in Mumbai, India.
- To determine the feasibility and acceptability of CHALO by examining process measures of implementing CHALO!, collecting data, and assess retention over 8 weeks as well as by assessing potential changes in condom use, HIV testing, & seeking in-person services at HST (primary outcomes) and HIV knowledge & attitudes (secondary outcomes).
Study duration: Two years
Current Status: Completed