Objective: We investigated whether there were any changes in attitudes and beliefs about contracting HIV and using condoms among Pakistani truck drivers who were provided an audio-cassette with information on AIDS prevention.
Methods: Truck drivers were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. A baseline assessment was conducted that measured attitudes and beliefs regarding HIV and condom use. The intervention group was given an audiocassette with AIDS information and music and the control group was given an audiocassette with only music. A follow-up assessment of truck drivers was conducted after two-four weeks of providing them the cassettes. Paired t-tests and logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess whether differences in attitudes in beliefs regarding AIDS and condom use emerged between intervention and control groups.
Results: There were significant changes of large magnitude in attitudes and beliefs towards AIDS prevention and condom use in both intervention and control groups. However, there were no significant differences in attitudes and beliefs towards AIDS and condoms between the two groups after the intervention.
Conclusions: Although large increases/improvements in knowledge and attitudes occurred among truck drivers, the increases were not due to the audiocassettes. We detected a very large baseline assessment effect. During the follow-up interview, substantial proportion of truckers in both intervention and control groups reported having discussed HIV/AIDS with a friend in the recent past. Being asked questions about HIV and condom use can itself be a powerful intervention in a conservative society.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant in this session will be able to: 1) Assess the effectiveness of using audio-cassettes to promote safer sex behavior among a high-risk mobile population 2) Understand how to design experimental studies to assess the effectiveness of HIV prevention programs
Keywords: HIV Interventions, Evaluation
Awards: - Honorable MentionPresenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.