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Putting prevention in their pockets: developing mobile phone-based HIV interventions for black men who have sex with men.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Muessig, KE; Pike, EC; Fowler, B; LeGrand, S; Parsons, JT; Bull, SS; Wilson, PA; Wohl, DA; Hightow-Weidman, LB
Published in: AIDS patient care and STDs
April 2013

Young black men who have sex with men (MSM) bear a disproportionate burden of HIV. Rapid expansion of mobile technologies, including smartphone applications (apps), provides a unique opportunity for outreach and tailored health messaging. We collected electronic daily journals and conducted surveys and focus groups with 22 black MSM (age 18-30) at three sites in North Carolina to inform the development of a mobile phone-based intervention. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically using NVivo. Half of the sample earned under $11,000 annually. All participants owned smartphones and had unlimited texting and many had unlimited data plans. Phones were integral to participants' lives and were a primary means of Internet access. Communication was primarily through text messaging and Internet (on-line chatting, social networking sites) rather than calls. Apps were used daily for entertainment, information, productivity, and social networking. Half of participants used their phones to find sex partners; over half used phones to find health information. For an HIV-related app, participants requested user-friendly content about test site locators, sexually transmitted diseases, symptom evaluation, drug and alcohol risk, safe sex, sexuality and relationships, gay-friendly health providers, and connection to other gay/HIV-positive men. For young black MSM in this qualitative study, mobile technologies were a widely used, acceptable means for HIV intervention. Future research is needed to measure patterns and preferences of mobile technology use among broader samples.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

AIDS patient care and STDs

DOI

EISSN

1557-7449

ISSN

1087-2914

Publication Date

April 2013

Volume

27

Issue

4

Start / End Page

211 / 222

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Virology
  • Text Messaging
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Safe Sex
  • Risk-Taking
  • Qualitative Research
  • Primary Prevention
  • North Carolina
  • Male
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Muessig, K. E., Pike, E. C., Fowler, B., LeGrand, S., Parsons, J. T., Bull, S. S., … Hightow-Weidman, L. B. (2013). Putting prevention in their pockets: developing mobile phone-based HIV interventions for black men who have sex with men. AIDS Patient Care and STDs, 27(4), 211–222. https://doi.org/10.1089/apc.2012.0404
Muessig, Kathryn E., Emily C. Pike, Beth Fowler, Sara LeGrand, Jeffrey T. Parsons, Sheana S. Bull, Patrick A. Wilson, David A. Wohl, and Lisa B. Hightow-Weidman. “Putting prevention in their pockets: developing mobile phone-based HIV interventions for black men who have sex with men.AIDS Patient Care and STDs 27, no. 4 (April 2013): 211–22. https://doi.org/10.1089/apc.2012.0404.
Muessig KE, Pike EC, Fowler B, LeGrand S, Parsons JT, Bull SS, et al. Putting prevention in their pockets: developing mobile phone-based HIV interventions for black men who have sex with men. AIDS patient care and STDs. 2013 Apr;27(4):211–22.
Muessig, Kathryn E., et al. “Putting prevention in their pockets: developing mobile phone-based HIV interventions for black men who have sex with men.AIDS Patient Care and STDs, vol. 27, no. 4, Apr. 2013, pp. 211–22. Epmc, doi:10.1089/apc.2012.0404.
Muessig KE, Pike EC, Fowler B, LeGrand S, Parsons JT, Bull SS, Wilson PA, Wohl DA, Hightow-Weidman LB. Putting prevention in their pockets: developing mobile phone-based HIV interventions for black men who have sex with men. AIDS patient care and STDs. 2013 Apr;27(4):211–222.
Journal cover image

Published In

AIDS patient care and STDs

DOI

EISSN

1557-7449

ISSN

1087-2914

Publication Date

April 2013

Volume

27

Issue

4

Start / End Page

211 / 222

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Virology
  • Text Messaging
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Safe Sex
  • Risk-Taking
  • Qualitative Research
  • Primary Prevention
  • North Carolina
  • Male