The development, feasibility and acceptability of an Internet‐based STI–HIV prevention intervention for young Chilean women

Abstract

Background Young Chilean women between 18 and 24 years of age are at high risk of contracting sexually transmitted infection (STI) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The literature shows a shortage of STI–HIV prevention interventions focused on this specific high-risk population and a unique set of barriers to receiving prevention messages. Internet-based interventions are promising for delivering STI–HIV prevention interventions and avoiding barriers to services. Aims The study aimed to develop a culturally informed Internet-based STI–HIV prevention intervention for Chilean women between 18 and 24 years of age, to investigate its feasibility and acceptability, and to compile recommendations on what would make the intervention more acceptable and feasible for these women. Methods The development of the Internet intervention was facilitated by a process that featured consultation with content and technology experts. A pre-post test design was used to test the acceptability and feasibility of the intervention with 40 young Chilean women between 18 and 24 years of age. Results The intervention website consisted of four modules of content and activities that support learning. The intervention was feasible and acceptable for young Chilean women between 18 and 24 years of age. Discussion and conclusion This study demonstrated the value of engaging multiple expert panels to develop culturally informed and technology-based interventions. The results of this study support the feasibility and acceptability of conducting an Internet-based intervention with multiple sessions, yielding high participation rates in a population in which there are barriers to discussion of STI–HIV prevention and sex-related content. Implications for nursing and health policy The outcomes have implications for nursing education and clinical practice and they can be used for the legal and judicial systems to promote or reinforce policies that encourage STI–HIV prevention strategies among women.

A Systematic Review of Recent Smartphone, Internet and Web 2.0 Interventions to Address the HIV Continuum of Care

“…There have been a number of online interventions that resulted from adaptation of existing in-person evidence-based or evidence-informed interventions to be delivered online [34, 38, 41•, 52]. For example, Ko et al adapted CDC’s Popular Opinion Leader (POL) intervention to develop an online version (iPOL) which trained peers to disseminate information about HIV, risk reduction, and behavior change; and to ask and respond to questions via Facebook [52].…”

The emancipatory potential of nursing practice in relation to sexuality: a systematic literature review of nursing research 2009–2014

“…Villegas et al. (), in their study on an internet STI‐HIV prevention intervention for young Chilean women, cite the gendered practices of marianisma (being like the virgin Mary, with the associated emphasis on abstinence until marriage, childbearing and duty to the family, deferring decisions on contraception to male partner), machismo (associated with sexual prowess, displays of strength and protection of the family), and familialism as features that underpin the reluctance to talk about sexual issues and for partners to discuss safer sex. Likewise, Lee et al.…”

Youth, Technology, and HIV: Recent Advances and Future Directions

“…The Internet-based HIV/STI prevention intervention (I-STIPI) consisting of four online modules was evaluated for preliminary efficacy among 40 sexually active Chilean women (age 18 to 24) in a pre-posttest design. At four weeks, significant improvements were found in HIV/STI knowledge (p< 0.001), condom use attitudes (p=0.019), and self-efficacy for HIV/STI prevention (p=0.044) (49, 52). Cybersenga, a school-based intervention consisting of five one-hour modules, delivered in four tracks based on gender and sexual activity (abstinent versus sexually active) was evaluated against a treatment-as-usual control group among 366 students aged 13 to 18 in Uganda.…”