Learning about the Word Up Study

Yesterday we had an ACTION lunch presentation on the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS) Study.

Dr. Manyas Magna, Anthony Rawls, and Dr. Irene Kuo (pictured left), from the George Washington School of Public Health, gave an overview of the study, known locally as the Word Up. See more pictures from the day here on our flickr page.

The NHBS system conducts surveys in cities with high levels of HIV to determine risk behavior, testing behavior, and use of prevention services. In this cycle, the NHBS is looking specifically at heterosexuals at high risk for HIV. In other cycles, the NHBS looks at men who have sex with men (MSM) and injection drug users (IDUS).

In the past the HIV/AID Administration (HAA) has tried to run the NHBS themselves, with quite poor outcomes. In this cycle, HAA contracted with George Washington University to conduct the survey, which seems to have been a good move. Dr. Magnus reported their study is exceeding their goals on recruitment, retention, and clean data (accuracy and consistency of data collected). Which means rather than bungling the survey as HAA has done in the past, we will actually have useful information about what's happening in DC to guide our efforts.

We got a look at the preliminary data at the lunch, which is subject to change and can't really be disseminated yet. But when the final report comes out, you can be sure I'll do my best to get this information out to the community.

The next cycle of the study will look at gay and bisexual men, and all men who have sex with men (MSM). The main survey is dicated by the CDC, but we can add local questions to the survey to get information of interest to our local community. Now is a GREAT time to start thinking about what questions we'd like to see included on this survey. I was really happy to see some members of the local Crystal Meth Task Force at the meeting, because I suspect there are some questions they might like to see included on the MSM survey.

If you'd like to join the NHBS Community Advisory Board, call the Word Up team at 1-877-9WORDUP and let them know.