About National HIV Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS)
Since 2003, Massachusetts has been conducting the fully anonymous National HIV Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS) project, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This project is conducted in major metropolitan areas across the country and includes activities designed to monitor HIV risk behaviors and assist in the design and delivery of prevention, education, and treatment services. This project cycles through three priority populations, including men who have sex with men, persons who inject drugs, and heterosexually active persons at increased risk for HIV infection. Over the last decade, data collected from the Boston-centered Massachusetts NHBS has helped to inform local, state, and national officials on useful prevention and treatment services, with the aim of generating sustainable and equitable public policies.
In 2022, Massachusetts was one of two states approved for a new approach to the NHBS project, called National HIV Behavioral Surveillance: Brief HIV Bio-behavioral Assessment (NHBS-BHBA). This new NHBS-BHBA project allows more flexibility to choose different priority populations apart from the three core populations listed above and allows MDPH to locate data collection in different areas of the state, based on available data and advisory group feedback. New priority populations and locations for the NHBS-BHBA project are chosen at the start of each data-collection cycle based on feedback from community members, knowledgeable professionals, state advisory bodies, and input from other statewide available data.
Purpose of NHBS-BHBA
The purpose of this project is to better understand factors that may impact HIV transmission across different populations at increased risk, identify gaps in prevention efforts, and develop useful interventions to prevent new infections and improve access to prevention and treatment services. The overall goals of the project are to learn more about HIV infection, sexual activity, drug use, access to and use of prevention services, stigma, mental health, and characteristics of people at high risk. By meeting these goals, the information can be used by local and national public health agencies to design responsive interventions, innovate approaches to prevention and care services so they are more appropriately tailored to meet the needs of impacted populations, and direct funding to where it is needed most.
Priority Populations For 2023-2024
With input from community members, state advisory bodies, and assessments from statewide data, two populations were prioritized for 2023-2024:
- Cis-men and nonbinary people of color assigned male at birth, who have sex with cis-men, living in Massachusetts.
- People born outside the United States living in Massachusetts.
New priority populations for the 2024-2025 cycle will be chosen in fall of 2024.
Collected Data and Information
Through a combination of anonymous quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews, NHBS-BHBA collects information on risk behaviors such as sexual history, access to healthcare services, access to HIV prevention services, and history of HIV and STI (specifically chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis) testing. Participants are also offered a rapid HIV test. Positive results are confirmed through a second type of rapid HIV test. Participants are provided with their results at the time of the test, and anyone with a positive test is offered connection to care which is arranged at the time of the test. All collected data are completely anonymous, and no names or other personal identifiable information are collected from participants.
Community Partners
The project collaborates with local organizations and community health centers with the goal of ensuring that the communities of focus are represented. We also have an advisory group that is comprised of professionals and community members, and we work closely with advisory groups to gather their feedback and any suggestions or recommendations for this project. Advisory consultations are ongoing throughout the entirety of the NHBS-BHBA project period.
Our Team
- Principal Investigator and Epidemiologist: Shauna Onofrey
- Project Coordinator: Justin Hinchey
- Data Manager: Mona Jarrah
- Field Supervisor: Javier Granados
- Field Interviewers: Cycle dependent
NHBS Frequently Asked Questions
1. Will any participant information be shared with the public?
No, the information provided by participants will not be shared at an individual level. The entire project is anonymous, we do not collect any identifying information about participants, however, participant responses will be shared in an aggregate, summary format with responses from other individuals interviewed for this study.
2. I am interested in learning more about the advisory groups, who do I contact?
If you are interested in serving on one of our advisory groups, please contact our Project Coordinator, Justin Hinchey at justin.t.hinchey@mass.gov.
3. I have questions about the project protocols and ethical standards, who do I contact?
The principal investigator on this project is Shauna Onofrey, you may email her with any questions about project regulations, ethical standards, and any component of the interview and data collection process. She may be reached at shauna.onofrey@mass.gov.
If you participated in the survey and have questions about your rights as a participant, contact Dr. Sai Cherala, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health IRB Co-Chair at Sai.Cherala@mass.gov
4. Is the HIV test a requirement to participate?
Participants have the option to complete or opt out of the HIV test, the choice is theirs.
5. Is the HIV test anonymous?
Yes, the HIV test is anonymous. The test and results will not be connected to the participant or any personal medical record, but it will be connected to the information provided in the survey.
6. Something came up, can a participant re-schedule the interview?
Of course. To re-schedule, please review the following and contact the relevant number from the two options:
- For cis-men and nonbinary people of color assigned male at birth, who have sex with cis-men, living in Massachusetts: Please call (617) 821-0755 to re-schedule.
- For people born outside the United States living in Massachusetts. Please call (617) 636-3587 to re-schedule.
7. How do participants get paid?
Participants receive a $50 gift card at the end of the interview.
8. Do participants need to provide any immigration status documentation papers to participate in this study?
No. We will not ask for any documentation papers for this project. We do not ask any information about immigration status.
For more information on the NBHS project and to view other areas where this project is currently running, feel free to visit:
National HIV Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS) | Surveillance Systems | Statistics Center | HIV | CDC