AEGiS-14IAC: Systematic review of HIV prevention interventions in African-American heterosexuals in the U.S.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Systematic review of HIV prevention interventions in African-American heterosexuals in the U.S.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. WeOrD1350)

Darbes LA, Kennedy GE, Peersman G, Zohrabyan L, Rutherford GW
Univeristy of California, AIDS Research Institute, San Francisco, United States

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown a substantial increase in HIV infections among racial/ethnic minorities in the U.S. We conducted a systematic review of HIV prevention interventions in U.S. minority populations and a meta-analysis of a subset of trials that addressed the issue of heterosexual risk among African Americans.

METHODS: We conducted comprehensive and systematic searches for both published and unpublished studies. For the meta-analysis our inclusion criteria required that studies were randomized clinical trials, and that the sample population be comprised of 100% African-American participants. We examined sexual behavior outcomes including condom use, number of sexual partners, and frequency of condom-protected intercourse. We calculated a standardized effect size (g) for each study. (When studies presented more than one outcome, the effect sizes for each outcome were averaged to obtain one score per study).

RESULTS: We identified 36 potentially relevant studies (100% African-American participants). Of those, 15 were excluded for not meeting our inclusion or methodological criteria. Of the remaining 21, 14 trials examined adult heterosexual risk and 7 examined adolescents. Of these 21 studies, only 7 presented sufficient data to conduct meta-analysis. Overall, interventions had a positive and significant impact on reducing HIV risk behavior. Across studies, the most successful interventions provided skills training and were sensitive to issues of gender and ethnicity. Peer education was also found to be a useful component. [table: see text]

CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the effect sizes were in the medium range, from 0.22 - 0.41 standard deviations, and demonstrated that behavioral interventions can positively impact HIV risk behavior in heterosexual African Americans.

Keywords: AEGIS, Heterosexuality, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, African Americans, Risk-Taking, Condoms, Sex Behavior, HIV Infections, United States, Safe Sex, Sexual Partners, Clinical Trials, Ethnic Groups, Adolescence, Adult, prevention & control, nursing

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