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

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. TuOrD1238)

El-Bassel N, Witte SS, Gilbert L, Wu E, Chang M, Hill J
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.

020707
TuOrD1238

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