Assignment 3: Curriculum and Learning Materials for an HIV Prevention Workshop for

Undergraduate Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) at the California State University,
Long Beach (CSULB)

Ryan J. Maganini
Department of Health Sciences, California State University, Long Beach
HSC 581: Curriculum Development in Health Education
Dr. Lucy Huckabay
April 19, 2023
CURRICULUM AND MATERIALS FOR AN HIV PREVENTION WORKSHOP 1

Learning Experience

The curriculum consists of a presentation delivered through a workshop hosted on

campus at the CSULB LGBTQ Resource Center. The workshop is intended for all enrolled

CSULB undergraduate students who identify as men who are sexually active and have

male-identified sexual partners. The presentation will provide: an overview of what HIV is, a

summary of the incidence and prevalence of HIV, an explanation of how HIV is spread,

information about all available HIV prevention methods and a demonstration of how to access

and use all available HIV prevention methods. The information will be presented through a

PowerPoint presentation, which will include graphics and video clips as appropriate. The

workshop will last one and a half hours, with the instructional lesson lasting one hour, leaving

thirty minutes to answer questions and provide space for a discussion from participants.

Before the workshop starts, and as participants are arriving, participants will be asked to

complete an evaluation quiz that gauges their baseline knowledge of HIV prevention methods

and their attitudes and behaviors related to the use of HIV prevention methods. The workshop

will begin with introductions, starting with the facilitator and going around the room to all the

participants. Participants will share their name, their academic major and a fun fact about

themself to get to know one another. After the introductions are complete, the facilitator will

cover the material in the PowerPoint presentation in the following order: overview of HIV, HIV

transmission and risk for infection, available HIV prevention methods and ways to accessing

HIV prevention methods. After the material has been covered, time is allotted for the facilitator

to answer questions from the participants. After all questions have been answered, the facilitator

will lead a discussion to gauge participant willingness to use HIV prevention methods, help them

plan how to access HIV prevention methods and workshop strategies to ensure HIV prevention
CURRICULUM AND MATERIALS FOR AN HIV PREVENTION WORKSHOP 2

methods are used regularly during or prior to sexual intercourse. After the discussion is

complete, participants will be asked to complete a follow-up evaluation quiz to understand what

they have learned about HIV prevention methods and whether their attitudes and behaviors have

changed regarding using HIV prevention methods prior or during sexual intercourse.

Learning Objectives and Related Instructional Materials

Learning Objective #1: The man will attend a workshop on campus that provides

information on what HIV is, the risks for becoming infected with HIV and the methods to

prevent HIV infection used during or prior to engaging in sexual intercourse (see

PowerPoint slides 3-9).

1.1 The man will correctly define the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

HIV stands for “human immunodeficiency virus” (CDC, 2021). The virus is an organism

that cannot replicate on its own; therefore, humans are the host for the virus (Graham, 2019). The

virus is transmitted between humans (CDC, 2021). HIV damages an individual’s immune

system, specially “helper T cells,” or CD4 cells, that fight infections (CDC, 2021). There are

three stages of HIV infection (NIH, 2021). The first stage of HIV infection is the acute infection,

which develops several weeks after infection and is marked by flu-like symptoms as the virus

begins to attack the immune system (NIH, 2021). The second stage is chronic infection, where

the virus continues replicating in the body and over time, fewer CD4 cells remain to fight off

infection (NIH, 2021). The third and final stage is marked by the development of autoimmune

deficiency syndrome, or AIDS, where the virus has significantly damaged the immune system

and has great difficulty fighting off infections (NIH, 2021). This image, from the NIH’s Office of

AIDS Research, illustrates the gradual increase in the number of virus cells over time, also
CURRICULUM AND MATERIALS FOR AN HIV PREVENTION WORKSHOP 3

known as the “viral load,” assuming no treatment is provided to prevent replication (NIH, 2021).

The video, provided by the Stanford Medicine Center for Health Education, provides an

overview of HIV infection and the three stages of the virus (YouTube, 2022).

1.2: The man will summarize how HIV is transmitted between sexual partners

during sexual intercourse.

HIV is transmitted from person to person through bodily fluids (e.g., blood, semen, breast

milk) (HIV.gov, 2022). Transmission occurs when bodily fluids from an individual with a

detectable viral load enter the bloodstream of an individual who is does not have HIV (HIV.gov,

2022). Transmission most commonly occurs (in the United States) through either sexual

intercourse (anal and vaginal) without using HIV prevention methods or sharing infected needles

while using drugs (HIV.gov, 2022). Thanks to advances in HIV treatment, individuals who are

infected with HIV can take medication, known as antiretroviral therapy, or ART, to reduce their

viral load, making the virus undetectable and untransmittable to sexual partners (Minnesota

Department of Health, 2022). In 2021, 30,635 new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

diagnoses in the US and 1,072,051 individuals living with HIV in the US (CDC, 2022b). 72% of

new HIV diagnoses were transmitted through sexual contact between men. 20% of new HIV

diagnoses were among individuals under the age of 24 (CDC, 2022a; CDC, 2022b); therefore,

young MSM are overrepresented among those newly diagnosed with HIV.

Learning Objective #2: The man will summarize all available HIV prevention methods that

can be used during or prior to engaging in sexual intercourse (see PowerPoint slides 10, 12,

14).
CURRICULUM AND MATERIALS FOR AN HIV PREVENTION WORKSHOP 4

Condoms are thin latex barriers that prevent the passage of semen or other bodily fluids

between persons (CDC, 2019). External condoms (when having anal sex) cover the penis and

internal condoms (when having vaginal sex) are inserted into the vagina (CDC, 2019). Condoms

can help prevent HIV infections as well as reduce the risk of contracting other STIs, like viral

hepatitis (CDC, 2019).

PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis and is a medicine that prevents HIV infection

(not STIs) prior to exposure (CDC, 2020b). PrEP can be either taken every day orally in pill

form (Truvada and Descovy) or through a shot (Apretude) (CDC, 2020b). PrEP is prescribed by

a doctor and requires regular visits with a healthcare provider to monitor effectiveness and any

possible side effects (CDC, 2020b). You cannot start PrEP until you have taken an HIV test to

confirm you are HIV negative (CDC, 2020b).

PEP stands for post-exposure prophylaxis and is a medicine used to prevent HIV

infection (not STIs) after known or potential exposure (CDC, 2020a). PEP needs to be taken

within 72 hours of exposure to HIV to be effective (CDC, 2020a). PEP, like PrEP, must be

prescribed by a doctor (CDC, 2020a). PEP is intended for emergency uses only and is not

intended to substitute regular or daily HIV prevention methods (condoms and PrEP) (CDC,

2020a).

Learning Objective #3: The man will summarize how to obtain all available HIV

prevention methods that can be used during or prior to engaging in sexual intercourse (see

PowerPoint slides 12, 14, 16).

3.1: The man will identify where to obtain condoms prior to engaging in sexual

intercourse.
CURRICULUM AND MATERIALS FOR AN HIV PREVENTION WORKSHOP 5

You can purchase condoms at your local drug store. Many agencies distribute condoms

for free, including the CSULB Student Health Services Center, the CSULB LGBTQ Resource

Center, Planned Parenthood- Long Beach Health Center, and The LGBTQ Center Long Beach.

You can also find free condoms throughout LA County at https://lacondom.com/our-partners/.

3.2 The man will identify where to obtain a prescription for PrEP prior to engaging

in sexual intercourse.

To be obtain a prescription for PrEP, you need to locate a healthcare provider in your area

that you can see for in person visits and who can prescribe PrEP (CDC, 2020c). You can call

your health insurance provider and request a doctor that can prescribe PrEP (CDC, 2020c). You

can refer to Emory University’s PrEP provider directory at https://preplocator.org/. If you would

prefer, you can use telehealth services, like MISTR (https://heymistr.com/), to meet with

healthcare providers virtually and have PrEP delivered to you.

3.3 The man will identify where to obtain PEP in the event they may have been

exposed to HIV.

To make certain that you have acess to PEP when you need it, confirm with your primary

care provider if they prescribe PEP (CDC, 2020a). Additionally, you should locate a healthcare

agency, urgent care or emergency room in your area that prescribes PEP in the event you need to

access PEP (CDC, 2020a). Many agencies in Los Angeles County prescribe PEP including St.

Mary Medical Center CARE Program, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and APLA Health Center

MLK Medical Campus. More agencies can be found on the Los Angeles County Department of

Public Health website, “Get PEP Now”

(http://320.798.mwp.accessdomain.com/pep/get-pep-now/).
CURRICULUM AND MATERIALS FOR AN HIV PREVENTION WORKSHOP 6

Learning Objective #4: The man will understand the correct use of all available HIV

prevention methods that can be used during or prior to engaging in sexual intercourse (see

PowerPoint slides 11, 13, 15).

4.1 The man will independently practice the correct use of a condom prior to

engaging in sexual intercourse.

This image, from the Centers for Disease Control, illustrates all the proper steps to

correctly using and disposing of an external condom (CDC, 2022c). The first step is to remove

the condom from the packing and dispose of the packaging. The second step is placing the

condom on the tip of the erect penis, making certain to pull back the foreskin if it is present. The

third step is to pinch the top of the condom while unrolling the condom down to the base of the

erect penis. After engaging in sexual intercourse, the fourth and final step is to remove the

condom. To remove the condom, make sure that the penis is no longer inserted anally or vaginal

and unroll the condom from the penis, making sure to tie off the condom to prevent a spill of

semen.

4.2 The man will practice taking PrEP medication daily prior to engaging in sexual

intercourse.

PrEP can be either taken every day orally in pill form (Truvada and Descovy) or through

a shot (Apretude) (CDC, 2020c).

4.3 The man will identify the appropriate time to access and take PEP after sexual

intercourse and possible exposure to HIV.

PEP needs to be taken within 72 hours of exposure to HIV to be effective and is intended

for emergency use only (CDC, 2020a).

References

Centers for Disease Control (CDC). (2019). Condom Effectiveness. Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/condomeffectiveness/index.html

Centers for Disease Control (CDC). (2020a, November 3). About PEP | PEP | HIV Basics |

HIV/AIDS | CDC. Www.cdc.gov. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/pep/about-pep.html

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) (2020b, November 3). About PrEP | PrEP | HIV Basics |

HIV/AIDS | CDC. Www.cdc.gov. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/prep/about-prep.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2020c, November 3). Starting and Stopping

PrEP | PrEP | HIV Basics | HIV/AIDS | CDC. Www.cdc.gov.

https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/prep/starting-stopping-prep.html

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) (2021, June 1). About HIV/AIDS. Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention; CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/whatishiv.html

Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022a, June 21). HIV: Basic Statistics. Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/statistics.html

Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022b, May 23). National Profile | Volume 33 | HIV

Surveillance Reports. Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/library/reports/hiv-surveillance/vol-33/content/national-profile.h

tml

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2022c). The Right Way To Use A Male*

Condom [Online image]. In https://www.cdc.gov/condomeffectiveness/index.html.

https://www.cdc.gov/condomeffectiveness/docs/male-condom-use-508.pdf

Graham, B. (2019). Virus. National Human Genome Research Institute.

https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Virus
CURRICULUM AND MATERIALS FOR AN HIV PREVENTION WORKSHOP 8

HIV.gov. (2022, June 16). How are HIV and AIDS Transmitted? HIV.gov.

https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/about-hiv-and-aids/how-is-hiv-transmitted/

Minnesota Department of Health. (2022, November 8). Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U)

- MN Dept. of Health. www.health.state.mn.us.

https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/hiv/prevention/uu/index.html

National Institute of Health (NIH). (2021, August 20). The Stages of HIV Infection | HIVINFO.

Hivinfo.nih.gov.

https://hivinfo.nih.gov/understanding-hiv/fact-sheets/stages-hiv-infection

YouTube. (2022, June 21). What is HIV / AIDS and how does it affect your body? | Stanford

Center for Health Education. Www.youtube.com.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmk_ZrKDwJs&ab_channel=StanfordCenterforHealt

hEducation