Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Mobile HIV Prevention App to Increase HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Initiation Among Rural Men Who Have Sex With Men in the Southern United States: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Gay and bisexual men who have sex with men (MSM) in the rural United States are less likely to test for HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and use pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) compared to urban MSM. Given the challenges in building brick-and-mortar facilities serving the sexual health needs of MSM in rural communities, there is a need to evaluate digital engagement strategies. Combine is a smartphone app designed to provide HIV prevention information and resources to MSM that may be particularly well suited to support rural MSM. HealthMindr, an app from which Combine is adapted, has previously been shown to increase HIV testing and PrEP uptake among urban MSM. Because rural MSM face additional barriers to accessing HIV prevention services, a motivational i

SUBMITTER: Jones J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12329388 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature