The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #49445

Susan S. Witte, PhD¹, Nabila El-Bassel, DSW¹, Louisa Gilbert, MS¹, Elwin Wu, PhD¹, Mingway Chang, MPhil¹, and Jennifer Hill, PhD². (1) Social Intervention Group, Columbia University School of Social Work, 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 1842, New York, NY 10115, 212-870-3273, ssw12@columbia.edu, (2) School of Social Work, Columbia University, 622 West 113 St., New York, NY 10025

OBJECTIVES: This NIMH-funded study tested the efficacy of a relationship-based HIV/STD prevention intervention at promoting female condom use among 217 urban African American and Latina women and their main male sexual partners. METHODS: A randomized clinical trial: at baseline, a woman and her main male partner were randomized to (1) a six-session, relationship-based intervention provided to both members of a couple together; (2) the same six-session intervention with only the female partner; or (3) a single-session HIV/STD education video and discussion provided to the female partner alone. All women and their study partners were followed up three months post intervention. Primary endpoints were based on self-report: (1) whether a female condom was used in the past 90 days; (2) number vaginal intercourse acts with a female condom in the past 90 days; and (3) intent to use a female condom in the next 90 days. Individual men and women were the unit of analysis (N=434), using random effects regression to account for within-couple correlations. RESULTS: At follow-up, individuals assigned to both active arms were more likely to have used female condoms (OR=2.5, p=.037); used female condoms a greater number of times(p=.047); and more likely to intend on using them (OR=2.0, p=.014) compared to those assigned to the education control arm. Comparing conjoint versus female-only modality of the relationship-based intervention revealed no significant differences in outcomes. CONCLUSION: Findings demonstrate the efficacy of this relationship-based HIV/STD prevention intervention in promoting female condom use and use intention among heterosexual couples at risk for HIV/STDs.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe elements of a relationship-based HIV/STD prevention intervention.
• Articulate the relative efficacy of such an intervention on female condom use outcomes.
• Describe the implications of these findings for future HIV/STD prevention research.

Keywords: HIV Interventions, Women and HIV/AIDS

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.