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Researchers for the Community HIV Prevention Research Collaborative investigated the efficacy of a randomized, community-level intervention designed to reduce the risk of HIV infection in men visiting gay bars in eight small U.S. cities. In the four control cities, educational information was made available in the bars. In the other four cities, popular gay men from the community were recruited and trained to endorse behavior changes to their peers. After one year of follow-up, population-level rates of risk behavior dropped significantly in the intervention cities compared to the controls. A city-level analysis found a decrease in the average frequency of unprotected anal intercourse during the previous two months in the intervention cities and an increase in the average percentage of anal intercourse that involved the use of condoms. The researchers concluded that popular "members of a community who systematically endorse and recommend risk-reduction behavior can influence the sexual-risk practices of others in their social networks."

Editor's Note: from Lancet