A Randomized Trial of an Online Risk Reduction Intervention for Young Black MSM

HealthMpowerment.org (HMP), is a mobile optimized, online intervention to reduce sexual risk behaviors among HIV-positive and HIV-negative young Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) by providing information and resources, fostering social support, and including game-based elements. A randomized controlled trial with 474 young BMSM compared HMP to an information-only control website. The rate of self-reported condomless anal intercourse (CAI) at 3-months was 32% lower in the intervention group compared to the control group (IRR 0.68, 95% CI 0.43, 0.93), however this effect was not sustained at 12 months. Among HIV-positive participants, the rate of CAI at 3-month follow-up was 82% lower among participants with detectable viral loads in the intervention group compared to the control group (IRR 0.18, 95% CI 0.04, 0.32). In a secondary analysis, when we limited to those who used HMP for over 60 min during the 3-month intervention period (n = 50, 25.8%), we estimated 4.85 (95% CI 2.15, 7.53) fewer CAI events than we would have expected in control participants, had they used the intervention at the same rate as the intervention group. Findings suggest that exposure to an online intervention can reduce the rate of CAI among young BMSM, at least in the short term. Given the stronger effect seen among those participants who complied with HMP, additional intervention engagement strategies are warranted.