Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

Abstract #163115

• Slides (pdf) or Handout
• Multimedia recording

Brian W. Weir, MPH¹, Michael J. Stark, PhD², Ronda S. Bard, PhD², Kerth O'Brien, PhD³, and Carol J. Casciato, BS⁴. (1) Program Design & Evaluation Services, Oregon Dept. of Human Services, 800 NE Oregon St., Ste. 550, Portland, OR 97232, 971-673-0609, brian.w.weir@state.or.us, (2) Program Design & Evaluation Services, Multnomah County Health Dept., 800 NE Oregon St., Ste. 550, Portland, OR 97232, (3) Department of Psychology, Portland State University, PO Box 751, Portland, OR 97207, (4) Multnomah County HIV and Hepatitis C Community Programs, Multnomah County Health Dept., 3653 SE 34th Ave, Portland, OR 97207

Background: This randomized controlled trial with women at-risk for HIV and with recent criminal justice system involvement (n=530) evaluates two motivational interviewing-based (MI) interventions to reduce HIV or partner violence risk.

Methods: A convenience sample of participants recruited in jails, parole and probation and word-of-mouth were randomized into three groups: control, HIV prevention (HIV), or HIV and partner violence prevention (HIV/PV). Intervention participants received up to 12 weekly (mean=4.7) one-on-one sessions delivered by paraprofessionals trained in MI. Sessions included risk self-assessment, assessment of readiness to address risk, and stage-based discussions of behavior change. Interventions addressed HIV risk and life stability concerns, and partner violence risk for HIV/PV participants. Assessments at baseline, 3, 6, and 9 months measured unprotected intercourse and needle sharing in the last 30 days and violence in the last 3 months. Group differences at follow-up were evaluated using generalized estimating equations that controlled baseline differences.

Results: 84% completed the 9-month follow-up assessment. Compared to participants in the control group, participants in the intervention groups had significantly lower odds of unprotected intercourse at the 3, 6, and 9-month assessments (average OR=0.51) and significantly lower incidence rates of unprotected intercourse at the 6 and 9-month assessments (average incidence rate ratio=0.61). There were no significant differences in intimate partner violence between controls and participants in the HIV/PV group.

Conclusions: MI-based HIV prevention interventions delivered by paraprofessionals can reduce sexual risk behavior and exposure to violence. The addition of a partner violence prevention component was not associated with reductions in violence.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify HIV risks and other concerns of women recently involved in the criminal justice system.
• Articulate components of motivational interviewing-based HIV prevention interventions.
• List methods for recruiting individuals recently involved in the criminal justice system.

Keywords: HIV Interventions, Criminal Justice

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

• Slides (pdf) or Handout
• Multimedia recording