The effects of HIV/AIDS intervention groups for high-risk women in urban clinics.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE. This study reports the results of a behavior change intervention offered to women at high risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection seen in an urban primary health care clinic. METHODS. Participants were 197 women randomly assigned to either an HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) risk reduction group or a comparison group. Women in the HIV/AIDS intervention group attended five group sessions focusing on risk education; skills training in condom use, sexual assertiveness, problem solving, and risk trigger self-management; and peer support for change efforts. Women in the comparison group attended sessions on health topics unrelated to AIDS. RESULTS. At the 3-month follow-up, women in the HIV/AIDS intervention group had increased in sexual communication and negotiation skills. Unprotected sexual intercourse had declined significantly and condom use had increased from 26% to 56% of all intercourse occasions. Women in the comparison group showed no change. CONCLUSIONS. Socially disadvantaged women can be assisted in reducing their risk of contracting HIV infection. Risk reduction behavior change interventions should be offered routinely in primary health care clinics serving low-income and high-risk patients.

Predicting protected sexual behaviour using the Information-Motivation-Behaviour skills model among adolescent substance abusers in court-ordered treatment

“…In contrast, condom-use skills assessed by direct observation were not significantly associated with condom use per se. Condom proficiency skill tasks are commonly used in HIV risk-reduction intervention outcome studies and have appeared superior to selfreport measures because they are likely to be less susceptible to demand characteristics and other sources of response bias (Kelly et al, 1994;Malow et al, 1998;Somlai et al, 1998). Unfortunately, our study findings do not support using objectively assessed condom application skills as predictors of condom use, even in the context of our use of cross-sectional data that could maximize our sensitivity to detect such a relationship.…”

“…Sexual risk behaviours were assessed using a modified version of a sexual risk assessment instrument previously used in other research (Kalichman et al, 1996;Kelly et al, 1994). The sexual risk assessment included retrospective recall of numbers of sex partners, unprotected sex acts, and condom use during the previous three months.…”

A Social Network Profile and HIV Risk Among Men on Methadone: Do Social Networks Matter?

“…[30][31][32] Network influence, for example, has been used successfully in a study in Tanzania that was designed to promote HIV prevention through a campaign designed to increase community-wide talk about HIV and family planning. 32 In another study, Kelly et al 33 used opinion leaders to teach individuals in the gay community to encourage condom use.…”

Alcohol, cannabis, and methamphetamine use and other risk behaviours among Black and Coloured South African women: A small randomized trial in the Western Cape

“…Recent research indicates that group behavioural risk-reduction interventions that combine HIV education with condom use and relational skills training can result in reductions in sex risk behaviour (Kelly et al, 1994;Ashery, Wild, Zhao, Rosenshine, & Young, 1997;McCoy, McCoy, & Lai, 1998), including among individuals with HIV/AIDS Kalichman, Rompa, & Cage, 2005;Heckman et al, 2001). Social support from peers is an important factor for group intervention durability and sustainability (Shain et al, 1999;Kelly et al, 1994;van Empelen, Kok, van Kesteren, van den Borne, Bos, & Schaalma, 2003).…”

“…Social support from peers is an important factor for group intervention durability and sustainability (Shain et al, 1999;Kelly et al, 1994;van Empelen, Kok, van Kesteren, van den Borne, Bos, & Schaalma, 2003). If effective, a group format is also a more cost-effective intervention than an individual format.…”