HAART optimism, drug use and risky sexual behavior among MSM in British Columbia

These related longitudinal projects are both run through the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver. Both focus on understanding the effects of the diffusion of anti-retroviral drugs or HAART (Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy) among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Greater Vancouver. The project’s main hypothesis is that substance use, associated with treatment optimism, will result in increased high-risk sexual behaviour for this population.

The project, now named Momentum, has recruited over 700 MSM participants using respondent-driven sampling guided by formative research on local social and sexual networks.

Funding body: National Institutes of Health Research

Progress to date: Results from the first cross-sectional sample of 719 men have been published in Culture, Health and Sexuality, with another paper just accepted to AIDS Care, and two more submitted to Archives of Sexual Behavior and Culture, Health and Sexuality.

Related project

Effects of HAART expansion on community levels of HIV viral load and HIV risk behaviours among MSM in British Columbia

Researchers

  • Eric Roth (Co-I)
  • Hogg, R. (PI)
  • Moore, D. (PI)