Building an HIV/STI prevention program in a gay bathhouse: a case study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Community Health

Background:

• Gay bathhouses face public health scrutiny due to associations with sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
• Previous attempts to close these venues have proven ineffective in the long term.
• Developing comprehensive prevention programs is challenging due to the need for multi-stakeholder collaboration and overcoming societal stigma.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an example of a multi-stakeholder collaboration for developing a holistic HIV/STI prevention program in gay bathhouses.
• To examine the process of establishing a collaborative team involving bathhouse managers, health department officials, and academics.
• To offer recommendations for fostering effective partnerships among stakeholders in public health initiatives.

Main Methods:

• Formation of a collaborative team comprising bathhouse managers, health department representatives, and academic researchers.
• Development of a holistic HIV/STI prevention program tailored to the bathhouse environment.
• Description of the process used to build and maintain stakeholder relationships.

Main Results:

• Successful establishment of a collaborative partnership between diverse stakeholders.
• Implementation of a holistic HIV/STI prevention program within a bathhouse setting.
• Identification of key factors and challenges in developing and sustaining such collaborations.

Conclusions:

• Multi-stakeholder collaboration is essential for effective HIV/STI prevention programs in high-risk settings like gay bathhouses.
• Addressing stigma and fostering trust are critical for successful public health interventions.
• The described collaborative model offers a framework for future public health initiatives in similar community settings.