Persons Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) have an increased life expectancy when they adhere to highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART). At the same time, ~25% of AIDS related deaths are due to non-HIV related comorbidities including cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, and hypertension. In the aging PLWHA population on HAART, an increasing risk for multiple cancers is clear and the cancers are more aggressive and advanced compared with an age-matched population. In addition to the liver cancer related to Hepatitis B and C, genital cancers related to human papillomavirus (HPV), increases in non-immune cancers including lung and melanoma cancers are the leading causes of death in PLWHA. Evidence has shown that community-based participatory approaches can be used to improve health outcomes in many populations. In this study, we focus on interventions for at-risk African-American, HIV positive, Men having Sex with Men (MSM) population. Typical community-based participatory activities include cancer-related awareness, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. We plan to utilize partnerships with community-based AIDS service organizations (ASO), community leaders, and local community state-representatives. Preliminary data shows that partnering with city-wide programming initiatives such as Black Gay Pride, Philly Pride Present and National Coming-Out Week will ensure community participation, leadership and engagement among the community. Currently, there is little research on how best to reach the Black or Hispanic PLWHA community. This project will investigate the socio-political-economic factors impacting these populations and the interventions that will increase engagement with healthcare educators and providers. Furthermore, knowledge from the PLWHA will help devise preventative approaches for reducing and addressing cancer risks.

Citation Format: Tyrell T Mann-Barnes, Grace X Ma. Identifying effective interventions using community-based participatory practices to improve cancer-related health outcomes in a high-risk population [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr B042.