Men Together Making a Difference: Health Promotion for Black Men

African American men infected with HIV are living longer and are acquiring the same chronic non-communicable diseases affecting the general population of African American men age 40 years and older. African American men have disproportionately high rates of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, and cancer, particularly prostate and colon cancer, but HIV is associated with an increased risk for co-morbidity from these conditions, a risk heightened by not only HIV infection itself, but also its treatment with antiretroviral therapy (ART). The risk for many of these chronic diseases is tied to behavior: risk is increased by physical inactivity and unhealthful diet. Although the high risk for behavior-linked chronic diseases among HIV-positive individuals has been recognized, there is a lack of evidence-based interventions specifically tailored to their needs. Hence, the broad objective of this research is to identify strategies to empower HIV positive African American men to engage in behaviors that reduce their risk of chronic diseases. This research will test the efficacy of a theory-based, contextually appropriate health promotion intervention in inducing positive changes in behaviors linked to risk of chronic diseases among HIV positive African American men age 40 years or older and will identify the theoretical variables that mediate its efficacy. In a randomized controlled trial, African American HIV positive men age 40 or older who are receiving ART for HIV will be randomized to the Men Together Making a Difference Health Promotion Intervention, which consists of three, 3-hour weekly intervention sessions, or the 1 session Health Awareness Control Group. The Men Together Making a Difference Health Promotion Intervention is based on social cognitive theory and the reasoned action approach integrated with formative research. Data will be collected at baseline, immediately post, and 3, 6 and 12 months post intervention. The trial will te