16th International AIDS Conference


Toronto, Canada - August 13 - 18, 2006

LIFE IN THE FASTLANE: TESTING THE EFFICACY OF A BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION TO REDUCE HIGH RISK SEXUAL BEHAVIORS AMONG HIV-NEGATIVE, HETEROSEXUAL METHAMPHETAMINE USERS

Int Conf AIDS. 2006 Aug 13-18;16 Abstract No. MoAc0205

Patterson T.L.1, Mausbach B.1, Semple S.J.1, Zians J.1, Strathdee S.2
1University of California, San Diego, Department of Psychiatry, La Jolla, California, United States, 2University of California, San Diego, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, La Jolla, California, United States

BACKGROUND: Methamphetamine use has become widespread in the U.S. and is associated with high risk sexual behaviors. We examined efficacy of a psychosocial intervention to reduce unprotected sex among HIV-negative, heterosexual methamphetamine users in San Diego, CA.

METHODS: HIV-negative, heterosexual men or women aged >18 years who reported unprotected sex during the past two months and had snorted/smoked methamphetamine at least twice in the past two months completed ACASI surveys and were randomized to either:

  1. four weekly 90-minute individual counseling sessions based on motivational interviewing with theory-based principles (i.e., social-cognitive theory, theory of reasoned action) to develop insights into motivations/triggers for unsafe sex and methamphetamine use;
  2. condition 1 above plus four monthly 90-minute safer sex “maintenance” counseling sessions; and
  3. diet-nutrition attention-control condition (DNT). Linear regression was used to compare individual counseling (i.e., Fastlane) to DNT on change for both intentions for safer sex and the ratio protected sex acts to total sex acts between baseline and six months.

RESULTS: Of 383 participants, 255 were randomized to individual counseling and 128 to DNT; 33% were female, 26% were African-American, 13% were Hispanic; mean age was 36; mean monthly methamphetamine used was 10 grams. No differences emerged between intervention and control subjects or those who completed the 6 month follow-up versus those who did not (p>0.05). Although only 209 subjects (56%) completed the 6 month follow-up, pre-post intervention change in protected sex acts indicated a significant intervention effect (t=2.8, df=202, p=0.006). Relative to the DNT, Fastlane subjects also had significantly greater changes in intentions for safer sex (t=3.2, df=202, p=0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Our behavioral intervention was associated with significant increases in intentions for safer sex and the percentage of total sex acts that were protected, indicating that heterosexual methamphetamine users can learn to engage in safer sex behaviors in the context of methamphetamine use.

Acrobat ReaderDownload PDF of this abstract.

2006-08-13
MoAc0205

Copyright © 2006 - International AIDS Society (IAS). All information and content relating to the abstracts from the 16th International AIDS Conference, such as text, graphics, logos, button icons, images, audio clips, and software is protected by copyright. Permission is hereby granted for the non-commercial use or reproduction of the information on this web site, provided that the use of such information is accompanied by an acknowledgement that IAS is the source of the information and the name of the author of the article.

AEGiS is a 501c(3) not-for-profit organization made possible through unrestricted funding from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Elton John AIDS Foundation, GlaxoSmithKline, the National Library of Medicine, Roche / Trimeris, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2006. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 2006. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. Permission is hereby granted for the non-commercial use or reproduction of the information herein, provided that the use of such information is accompanied by an acknowledgement that IAS is the source of the information and the name of the author of the article.