CDC'S Testing Makes Us Stronger (TMUS) Campaign: Was Campaign Exposure Associated With HIV Testing Behavior Among Black Gay and Bisexual Men?

• Published in: AIDS education and prevention Vol. 29; no. 3; pp. 228 - 240
• Main Authors: Habarta, Nancy, Boudewyns, Vanessa, Badal, Hannah, Johnston, Jennie, Uhrig, Jennifer, Green, Donata, Ruddle, Paul, Rosenthal, Jacqueline, Stryker, Jo Ellen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Guilford Press 01.06.2017
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Adolescent; Adult; African Americans - psychology; African Americans - statistics & numerical data; African Continental Ancestry Group - psychology; African Continental Ancestry Group - statistics & numerical data; AIDS; AIDS/HIV; Bisexuality; Bisexuality - ethnology; Bisexuality - psychology; Bisexuality - statistics & numerical data; Campaigns; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.); Communication; Education; Exposure; Gays & lesbians; Health education; Health Promotion - methods; HIV; HIV Infections - diagnosis; HIV Infections - prevention & control; HIV Infections - psychology; Homosexuality; Homosexuality, Male - ethnology; Homosexuality, Male - psychology; Homosexuality, Male - statistics & numerical data; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Internet; Logistic Models; Male; Mass Screening - statistics & numerical data; Mass Screening - utilization; Medical screening; Men; Men who have sex with men; Mens health; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) - methods; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) - statistics & numerical data; Propensity; Public service advertising; Regression analysis; Risk-Taking; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tests; United States; Young Adult
• DOI: 10.1521/aeap.2017.29.3.228
• ISSN: 0899-9546

This study assessed exposure among Black gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (BMSM) to a communication campaign, Testing Makes Us Stronger (TMUS), and its association with HIV testing to determine campaign effectiveness. Data from an online survey (N = 3,105) were analyzed using propensity score weight-adjusted logistic regression to examine the effect of exposure on HIV testing. Among BMSM aged 18-44 (n = 702), 43.2% reported TMUS exposure. The majority of those exposed were aged 25-34 (54%), HIV-negative (65%), and had some college education (87%). TMUS exposure was associated with reported increased HIV testing behaviors at 6- and 12-month frequencies. Communication campaigns with clear implementation strategies, focused objectives, and online and event presence can be associated with longer-term outcomes such as HIV testing.