El-Bassel N, Witte SS, Gilbert L, Wu E, Chang M, Hill J; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 2002 Jul 7-12; 14: abstract no. TuOrD1238.
Columbia University School of Social Work Social Intervention Group, New York, United States
BACKGROUND: The study, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, examined the efficacy of a relationship-based HIV/STD prevention intervention among couples (adult female clinic patients and their regular, male sexual partners). METHODS: A randomized clinical trial: 217 couples were randomized to either (1) a 6-session, relationship-based intervention provided conjointly to both members of a couple; (2) the same intervention provided to the female partner alone; or (3) a single HIV/STD prevention educational session provided to the female partner alone and serving as a control condition. Intention-to-treat analyses were used with data collected from study participants at baseline and 3-month post-intervention follow-up assessments. Four primary endpoints were based on self-report about the 90-day period prior to the assessment interview: (1) number of unprotected acts of vaginal intercourse, (2) proportion of protected acts of vaginal intercourse, (3) number of STD symptoms, and (4) number of sexual partners. RESULTS: Participants in both relationship-based intervention arms engaged in less risk behavior at 3-month follow-up, reporting significantly fewer number of unprotected acts and significantly higher proportion of protected acts of vaginal intercourse compared to the control group. No significant differences were found at follow-up when couples in conjoint sessions were compared to couples in which only the female partner received the relationship-based intervention. CONCLUSION: Findings demonstrate the efficacy of a relationship-based HIV/STD intervention which can be used in public health settings and that it is feasible to involve couples in HIV/STD prevention interventions.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Adult
- Female
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Humans
- Male
- Sexual Partners
- methods
Other ID:
UI: 102250864
From Meeting Abstracts