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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Laraine Winter, PhD, Community & Homecare Research Division, Thomas Jefferson University, Edison Building, suite 500, 130 South 9th St., Philadelphia, PA 19107, 215-503-4715, Laraine.Winter@mail.tju.edu, A. Susan Goldy, MS, Family Health Council of Central Pennsylvania, 3461 Market St., Suite 200, Camp Hill, PA 17011, Joan M. Garrity, Garrity Health Consulting and Training, 1862 Edgewood Rd., Baltimore, MD 21234, and Laurie Zabin, PhD, Bill and Melinda Gates Institute for Population and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St., Room W4503, Baltimore, MD 21205.
HIV infection rates have increased rapidly among U.S. women, with heterosexual contact posing the greatest risk. Interventions aimed at condom use have a particular relevance for HIV prevention in women. Most condom-related counseling focuses on technical instruction. Yet research has shown that the major barriers to condom use are interpersonal or social (e.g., the inability to discuss condoms with partners). The present study evaluated a Social Skill Counseling (SSC) protocol, pinpointing the social skills needed to negotiate condom use with a sexual partner. In a randomized control-group design, the SSC protocol was pitted against usual-care counseling. In each of four participating clinics, one counselor was randomized to the SSC or the usual-care condition. Participants were 1,407 White and African-American women aged 12 to 48 years (mean=20) whose behavior indicated some risk for STD/HIV. Clients completed a post-counseling questionnaire assessing intentions to obtain and use condoms, number of free condoms they would accept, attitudes, and mastery of technical information. One year later clients reported the frequency of use during the past 12 months. Results Analyses of covariance indicated that SSC clients took more condoms home and expressed stronger condom-use intentions. Mastery of technical information was stronger in the Usual-care group, as predicted. 12-month follow-up data indicated a beneficial effect, with marginally more consistent use among SSC clients. These results support the SSC protocol's feasibility and effectiveness in promoting condom acceptance, intentions to use, and use among high-risk women.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Condom Use, STD Prevention
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.