Evaluating the efficacy of an HIV prevention program among Dominican university students

Objectives: This study analyzed the efficacy of one of the first formal HIV prevention programs to be delivered at a major public university in the Dominican Republic. The study sought to determine differences in attitudes and sexual behavior between intervention and control group participants. Method: Self-administered surveys were given to intervention (n=190) and control group students (n=897) during the summer of 2006, approximately three months after completion of the intervention. Analyses using logistic and OLS regression evaluated program efficacy. Secondary regression-based analysis parceled out the effects of mediators and covariates. Results: Statistically significant effects between intervention and control groups (p<0.05) were found regarding three key variables. Mean scores on condom attitudes were higher in the intervention group (23.4, s.d. = 3.41) than in the control group (20.9, s.d. = 3.64), with higher scores representing more favorable attitudes toward condoms. Mean number of sexual partners in the last three months was lower among intervention group participants (0.8, s.d. = 1.02) than control group participants (1.1, s.d. = 1.33). Of those surveyed, 66.7% of the students in the intervention group reported using a condom at last intercourse compared with 46.5% of students in the control group (p = <0.01). Conclusions: Short term intervention-control group differences were observed for condom attitudes and number of sexual partners. Sizeable differences in condom use at last intercourse also were evident. Implications for public university settings in the DR as prime venues for HIV prevention interventions are discussed. Recommendations for program improvement and dissemination are made.