RFA-PS-11-011 National HIV Surveillance Behavior Puerto Rico Department of Health Project Summary The HIV Behavioral Surveillance System will be conducted in three research cycles. Each cycle will approach three different populations: MSM, IDU's, and HET and each cycle will be of one year duration. The first cycle will be MSM and it will be conducted through from January to December 31, 2011. The second cycle will be the IDU's and it will be conducted from January to December 31st, 2012. The third and last cycle will be the HRH, starting from January to December 31, 2013. At the beginning of 2014 a new round will begin with another MSM cycle from January to December 31st 2014 and a IDU cycle from January to December 31st 2015. HIV testing will be available for all participants in all cycles. High-risk individuals from non- healthcare community settings will be recruited using a scientifically sound methodology to develop an ongoing system for surveillance of behaviors related to HIV acquisition. We will assess risk behaviors and trends in behaviors over time among adults 18 years old and older at high risk for HIV infection through sexual behavior between men, injection drug use and heterosexual contact. HIV testing will be assessed in addition to access and utilization of HIV prevention programs. We will interview at least 500 persons per cycle. 3
National HIV Behavioral Surveillance Project Period (2011- 2015) Narrative: The Puerto Rico HIV/AIDS Surveillance Program will continue with the National HIV st Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS) from January 1, 2011 to December 31 , 2015. NHBS will be implementing rounds 3 and 4 consisting of three reseach cycles each. The cycles wiil consist of one high risk population per year, for example;cycle 1 MSM, cycle 2 IDU and cycle 3 HET for the 2011 to 2013 round ot the third round. During the period of 2014 to 2015 the fourth round will begin again with cycle 1 MSM and cycle 2 IDU. Our goal is to interview at least 500 eligible participants per cycle to assess high risk behaviors, alcohol and drug use and sexual behaviors in the San Juan Metropolitan Area where NHBS will be conducted. We will also assess HIV seropositivity. Two different sampling methods will be used. For the MSM cycle we will use the Venue based time (VBT) space methods. NHBS staff will visit venues where MSM commonly gather and interview eligible participants, and HIV test will be offered after finalizing the test. Incentives will be paid for the participants time and for having an HIV test done. For the IDU and the HET cycle we will use the Respondent Driven Sampling (RDS) methods, that will give the participant the opportunity to recruit peers with his/her same characteristics. This sampling method is similar to a snowball sampling. Again an interview will be offered to all eligible participants and an HIV test. Incentives will be provided for the participants time, for the HIV test and an additional incentive will be paid for each recruit the participant refers up to a maximum of three.
