@unpublished{pittir18666,
           month = {April},
           title = {Addressing the Disparity of HIV Among Black MSM: A Review and Critical Discussion of the M2M Project},
          school = {University of Pittsburgh},
          author = {Aaron Arnold},
       publisher = {University of Pittsburgh},
            year = {2013},
             url = {http://d-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu/18666/},
        abstract = {Black men who have sex with men (MSM) are the most severely affected subpopulation for HIV infection; existing intervention modalities are failing to meet the unique needs of Black MSM. The M2M Project is a counseling-based intervention for MSM residing in the Pittsburgh area that focuses on reducing substance use and sex related risks for HIV transmission. The following recommendations are based on a critical review of the M2M Project and relevant literature: involve stakeholders in meaningful ways throughout all stages of the process, and ensure greater consistency between data collection methods and the evolving standards, recommendations and directives in healthcare and HIV prevention research. Additionally, greater attention should be paid to structural or policy level issues that impact the lives of Black MSM and the communities in which they reside such as unequal access to health care. The M2M Project represents a good attempt to address the urgency of the HIV disparity among Black MSM that utilized the incomplete data that was available at the time regarding drivers of the infection in this population. However, future interventions must consider the landmark work of Millett and colleagues, who used multiple meta-analyses to determine which factors contribute most to the disparity of HIV among Black MSM, in order to increase intervention effect sizes among this population. The public health relevance of this critical discussion is to put forth a preliminary evaluation of an intervention that attempts to address the disparity of HIV among Black MSM in Pittsburgh so that future interventions can be built in an iterative process in order to increase the benefits to participants. The development, evaluation, dissemination, and implementation of novel, effective interventions that go beyond past efforts to reduce HIV risk among Black MSM is necessary in order to reduce or eliminate the disparity of HIV infection among Black MSM.}
}