Developing an HIV Prevention Program for High Risk Couples

描述（由申请人提供）：在这项R34研究中，我们将开发并试点测试一种针对跨性别女性及其男性主要伴侣的以夫妇为中心的艾滋病毒预防干预措施。在美国，变性妇女是感染艾滋病毒风险最高的群体之一，变性妇女报告说，她们最经常与男性主要伴侣发生无保护措施的性行为。与变性妇女发生性关系的男性最近被确定为艾滋病毒的高危人群。目前，没有循证干预措施来减少变性妇女或MSTW的艾滋病毒感染。我们提出了一项创新的研究，将适应原则，从经验支持的夫妇为重点的艾滋病毒干预措施，以制定干预措施，以减少艾滋病毒的风险，在变性妇女和他们的男性主要合作伙伴。在改编夫妇咨询材料后，我们将对60对夫妇进行以夫妇为中心的干预试验，其中包括变性妇女及其男性主要伴侣。研究结果将提供初步数据的效果，可行性，可接受性，和实施过程中的夫妇艾滋病毒预防干预试验。如果这项研究显示出初步的希望，我们将使用研究结果来支持R01应用，以在随机对照试验中测试干预效果。 公共卫生相关性：在这项R34干预发展研究中，我们将调整经验支持的夫妇艾滋病毒预防干预措施，以解决跨性别妇女和他们的男性主要合作伙伴之间的关系动态。我们将对干预措施进行试点测试，以评估可行性、可接受性、初步效应大小和试验实施程序。如果研究结果显示出初步的希望，这项研究将成为未来针对变性女性及其男性主要伴侣的第一对夫妇干预的随机对照试验的基础。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In this R34 research study we will develop and pilot-test a couples focused HIV prevention intervention addressing transgender women and their male primary partners. In the U.S., transgender women are among the highest-risk groups for HIV infection, and transgender women report most frequently engaging in unprotected sex with their male primary partners. Men who have sex with transgender women (MSTWs) have recently been identified as a high-risk population for HIV. Currently there are no evidence-based interventions to reduce HIV infection in transgender women or MSTWs. We propose an innovative research study that will adapt principles from empirically supported couples-focused HIV interventions in order to develop an intervention to reduce HIV risk in transgender women and their male primary partners. After adapting couples counseling materials, we will pilot test the couples-focused intervention with 60 couples comprising transgender women and their male primary partners. Findings will provide preliminary data on the effects, feasibility, acceptability, and implementation process of a couples HIV prevention intervention trial. If this research shows initial promise, we will use findings to support an R01 application to test intervention efficacy in a randomized controlled trial. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: In this R34 Intervention Development study, we will adapt empirically supported couples HIV prevention interventions to address relationship dynamics between transgender women and their male primary partners. We will conduct a pilot test of the intervention to assess feasibility, acceptability, preliminary effect sizes, and trial implementation procedures. If findings show initial promise, this research will form the basis of a future randomized controlled trial of the first couples-focused intervention for transgender women and their male primary partners.