The RPM (Re-defining Prevention Methods) Project is a project of the San Ysidro Health Center (SYHC), a non-profit community health center located in San Ysidro, CA. For over 32 years, SYHC has been providing quality, low-cost, primary health care services to South Bay residents including family-oriented primary health care services, adult medicine, dental care services, mental health services and more.
In addition to these services, SYHC also offers HIV testing, HIV specialty care and Nutrition, PARA, an HIV Prevention Program for Injection Drug Users (IDUs), and CASA (Coordinated Assistance, Services and Advocacy), a drop-in center for people living with HIV/AIDS and their families.
SYHC is one of approximately 25 national sites receiving funding from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to conduct the National Behavioral Surveillance of HIV Risk and Prevention Behaviors of Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) and Injection Drug Users (IDUs). This project will provide relevant, timely and high-quality data on risk and prevention behaviors of MSM and IDUs in San Diego County in order to help direct and evaluate local and national HIV prevention efforts.
Overall Goal:
To help direct local and national prevention efforts by identifying the prevalence and trends in sexual and drug-use risk behaviors among MSM, and their exposure to and utilization of HIV testing and other prevention services funded by state/ local health departments.
Objectives:
- Assess the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs on HIV risk and prevention, including HIV testing; Estimate the prevalence of specific HIV/STD-associated sexual and drug-use behaviors;
- Estimate the prevalence of HIV testing behaviors
- Assess exposure to and utilization of HIV/STD prevention services funded by CDC and state and local health departments.
- Provide comprehensive information/data results to local health department, community health centers and agencies, HIV specific agencies, HIV Planning bodies, and HIV prevention programs in order to aid in future prevention method development.
Activities:
Compile demographic and other general information on local MSM & IDU community. Develop comprehensive database of MSM venues (i.e. bars, clubs, gyms, etc.). Develop database of local HIV Prevention programs, specifically those funded by CDC. Conduct informational interviews and focus groups to elicit information regarding venue sites, attitudes, thoughts and beliefs about risk behaviors and current HIV prevention methods/activities.