The CDC-funded Prevention Education Program at Bronx AIDS Services provides an HIV prevention intervention for active substance users recruited through street outreach. This program integrates components of harm reduction, stages of change and motivational interviewing and is evaluated through intake and exit interviews. Of the 158 individuals completing the program, 59% are African-American, 32% Latino and 9% White; and 58% are male. A quarter are homeless at baseline. Ninety-one percent report having been tested for HIV, 24% stating that they were HIV positive. Individuals participate in 7-week, 21-session psycho-educational group intervention, based on a standardized curriculum developed for this program. Additionally, group participants design a self-evaluation instrument and set harm reduction behavior change goals based on their assessments. Evaluation data demonstrates significant changes in HIV-related risk behaviors. Individuals completing the intervention self-reported the following changes during the previous 30 days. Injection drug use was reduced from 16% at baseline to 10% on program completion and crack use was reduced from 58% to 38%. Among IDU’s, 13% reported never sharing works at baseline, increasing to 94% on program completion, 17% never shared drugs, increasing to 60%, 8% always cleaned works, increasing to 67%, and 8% always used a syringe exchange, increasing to 43%. Sexual risk behavior change reported included a reduction in unprotected oral sex (55% to 13%), unprotected vaginal sex (75% to 29%), unprotected anal sex (10% to 2%) and exchanging sex for money (10% to 3%).
Learning Objectives: 1. Participants will be able to describe behavioral models in an HIV prevention intervention for active substance users. 2. Participants will be able to identify applications of these models in a successful HIV prevention intervention. 3. Participants will be able to discuss the evaluation process and data from a successful HIV prevention intervention for active substance users
Keywords: HIV Interventions, Drug Use
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Bronx AIDS Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employee, Bronx AIDS Services
Grant from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention