Examining the Efficacy of HIV Risk-Reduction Counseling on the Sexual Risk Behaviors of a National Sample of Drug Abuse Treatment Clients: Analysis of Subgroups

Abstract

HIV counseling with testing has been part of HIV prevention in the U.S. since the 1980s. Despite the long-standing history of HIV testing with prevention counseling, the CDC released HIV testing recommendations for health care settings contesting benefits of prevention counseling with testing in reducing sexual risk behaviors among HIV-negatives in 2006. Efficacy of brief HIV risk-reduction counseling (RRC) in decreasing sexual risk among subgroups of substance use treatment clients was examined using multisite RCT data. Interaction tests between RRC and subgroups were performed; multivariable regression evaluated the relationship between RRC (with rapid testing) and sex risk. Subgroups were defined by demographics, risk type and level, attitudes/perceptions, and behavioral history. There was an effect (p < .0028) of counseling on number of sex partners among some subgroups. Certain subgroups may benefit from HIV RRC; this should be examined in studies with larger sample sizes, designed to assess the specific subgroup(s).

Role of peer educators in behaviour change communication interventions for HIV prevention among people who inject drugs: Systematic review article

“…The IMB states that information and motivation are critical requisites for effective, action promoting as well as maintaining healthy behaviours and experiencing positive outcomes (Brown et al, 2016). In the context of this study, the IMB model is used to explain specific facts about peer education and behaviour, as well as how communication on the use of condoms, syringes and needles contributes to the prevention of HIV transmission among PWID (Ahsani-Nasab et al, 2016; Gooden et al, 2016). Also, the theory helps to explain that peer educators are important factors in exerting powerful influences on HIV prevention and behaviour change.…”

Changes in self-reported risky sexual behaviour indicators among adults receiving regular risk reduction counselling and optional initiation of pre-exposure prophylaxis in an HIV vaccine preparedness study in Masaka, Uganda

“…One of the measures that could promote HIV risk reduction in at-risk populations is a well-packaged counselling programme. However, evidence on the impact of counselling on risky sexual behaviour remains inconclusive [ 5–7 ]. In addition, there are concerns about the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a key HIV prevention tool, causing behavioural risk compensation, i.e.…”