Contextualizing and Responding to HIV Risk Behaviors among Black Drug Offenders, New York, 2016

The purpose of this study was to pilot test the potential for improvement in antiretroviral medication adherence of an adapted group-based, multi-session, community-based Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) adherence and risk reduction intervention, Project ADHerence Education and Risk Evaluation (ADHERE). Project ADHERE was compared to a single-session group-based medication adherence intervention, Medication Adherence and Care Engagement (MACE). A secondary aim was to examine the impact of Project ADHERE on HIV risk behaviors (i.e., illicit drug use and unprotected sexual behavior).
Formerly incarcerated Black drug offenders are at an elevated risk for HIV infection. Despite substantial research expressing the need for HIV prevention services for ex-offenders postrelease, this population has limited access to quality programming and services related to HIV risk reduction. This study seeks to inform and adapt an HIV risk reduction intervention to address the needs of formerly incarcerated Black drug offenders who are being released from prisons in the New York City metropolitan area. The study utilizes qualitative and quantitative methods to inform and adapt an HIV prevention intervention for this study population.