Integrating HIV Prevention and Relationship Education for Young Same-Sex Male Couples: A Pilot Trial of the 2GETHER Intervention

Abstract

Young men who have sex with men are at high risk for HIV, and most new HIV infections occur in serious relationships. This pilot study assessed the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of the 2GETHER couples-based HIV prevention and relationship education intervention for young same-sex male couples. We enrolled 57 young male couples (N = 114) into a four-session hybrid group and individual intervention. We assessed acceptability via post-session surveys and exit interviews, and we examined preliminary efficacy at a two week posttest. The vast majority of participants (93%) reported exclusively positive impressions of 2GETHER, and all components received high mean ratings. We observed decreases in HIV risk behavior, increases in information, motivation and behavioral skills related to HIV prevention, and improvement in relationship investment between pretest and posttest. Integrating relationship education and sexual health programming may be an effective way to reduce HIV transmissions in young male couples.

Keywords: Couples; HIV/AIDS; Relationship education; Young men who have sex with men.

Figures

Fig. 1

Integrated vulnerability stress adaptation and relationship-oriented information, motivation, behavioral skills model. Note: The investigator-created framework was developed specifically for the development of the 2GETHER intervention, and it draws on the relationship-orientation information, motivation, behavioral skills (RELO-IMB) and vulnerbality stress adaptation (VSA) models

Fig. 2

2GETHER participant recruitment process. Note: This figure illustrates the number of individuals at each step of the recruitment process, as opposed to dyads. The total number of dyads that completed pretest and enrolled was 57 (B2). Asterisk reasons for ineligibility were not mutually exclusive