Romania (2006): HIV/AIDS TRaC Study Evaluating the Effect of a POL-type Program among Men who have Sex with Men in Bucharest Second Round

Abstract

This study is part of the men who have sex with men (MSM) program portfolio of PSI Romania. The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of the Popular Opinion Leader (POL) intervention piloted in an MSM club in Bucharest, Romania. Research objectives included measuring the implementation of the POL intervention, measuring exposure to the intervention, and correlating exposure with desired changes in health behaviors (primarily protected sexual intercourse, and use of health services for STI and HIV testing) and selected determinants of these behaviors. As there was only one location available for the research, the study employed a take-all approach without sampling. At both baseline and follow-up, all eligible patrons of the club being surveyed were invited to participate in the survey. The data collection during both rounds took place over a period of 5 weekends, capturing the majority of eligible and willing respondents. At follow-up, the club Queens had closed, and the clientele had moved on to a new club, Impact. In an effort to capture respondents who had been sampled at baseline and could have been exposed to the intervention in Queens, the elibigility criteria included only those individuals who had frequented the club Queens in the previous six months