14th International AIDS Conference Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. MoOrD1018)

Metcalf CA, Dillon BA, Douglas JM, Padilla SM, Paul SM, Young PA, Lindsey CA, Peterman TA
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, United States

BACKGROUND: Project RESPECT found that HIV testing with 2 sessions of prevention counseling prevented more STDs than HIV testing with information alone, but that the effect waned over time. We assessed whether a "booster" counseling session 6 months after HIV testing and counseling would further prevent STD.

METHODS: Consenting STD clinic patients in 3 US cities were randomized to receive either a rapid or a standard HIV test. At baseline, half the participants in each group were further randomized to receive "booster" counseling 6 months later. Participants were interviewed and screened for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis at baseline and every 3 months for 1 year. We did an intention to treat analysis.

RESULTS: 3,293 participants were enrolled and followed-up for 12 months. Data are pending for 14.2% of participants. 70.1% of the no booster group and 71.0% of the booster counseling group visited at 6-months when the booster session was given. Preliminary data show that between the 6- and 9-month visits, 4.6% of the no booster group and 5.0% of the booster group developed a new STD (relative risk [RR] 1.09; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.80-1.47; p=0.60). By the 12-month visit, 8.7% of the no booster group and 8.9% of the booster group had developed a new STD since the 6-month visit (RR 1.03; CI 0.83-1.28; p=0.80).

CONCLUSION: Preliminary results indicate that an additional counseling session 6 months after HIV testing and counseling had no effect on the incidence of new STDs over the following 6 months.

020707
MoOrD1018

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