The Momentum Health Study is a sexual health study of gay, bisexual and queer men (inclusive of trans men) in Metro Vancouver. The study has been active in Vancouver since 2012 and we relaunched in February 2017 as part of the national Engage study (www.engage-men.ca). There have been a number of changes to how we have been communicating messages of HIV treatment and prevention in British Columbia. For one, antiretroviral therapy for treatment of HIV has significantly expanded. More people are now on treatment for HIV than ever before and with the development of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), Momentum aims to know more about how men are responding to this.
The study uses Respondent Driven Sampling (RDS) to obtain a more representative sample reflective of the ethno-cultural diversity of Metro Vancouver and inclusive of subgroups that may have been overlooked in other sampling strategies. We conducted two cross-sectional surveys, the first during 2012-2015 and the second from 2017-2019. Eligible participants in both surveys were invited to participate in a cohort study, with follow-up every six months for four years. Study visits consist of a self-completed computer questionnaire and a nursing visit with testing for HIV, Hep C, Syphilis, Chlamydia, and Gonorrhea. Participants also consent to have these data linked to administrative data sets.
Partners: HIM, YouthCO HIV & Hep C Society, CBRC, Qmunity, PLBC
Methods:
Quantitative: Prospective biobehavioural cohort study (surveys and biospecimens)
Funder: Canadian Institutes for Health Research
Current Status: Data collection, analysis, and reporting ongoing (new data collection on hold as a result of COVID-19)
Project Outputs:
- Portrait of the Health and Well-Being of Gay, Bisexual and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men in Metro Vancouver, Vancouver – Community Report
- Portrait of the Health and Well-Being of Gay, Bisexual and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men in Metro Toronto, Toronto – Community Report
- Portrait of the Health and Well-Being of Gay, Bisexual and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men in Greater Montreal, Montreal – Community Report