Preliminary outcomes of the young women's coop on sexual risk behaviors

Background: The Young Women's CoOp is a five-year study adapting the Women's CoOp, an evidence-based HIV prevention intervention. This analysis evaluates its efficacy among sexually active African-American young women (ages 16-19), who have dropped out of school in North Carolina. Methods: The Women's Intervention involved building skills for HIV/STI prevention, drug use reduction, and sexual communication with partners, whereas the control group received a nutrition intervention. 206 young African American women (ages 16-19) completed baseline and six-month follow-up assessments that included face-to- face and self-administered surveys and biologically tested for alcohol and other drugs. We assessed reductions in high risk behaviors from baseline to follow-up data using descriptive repeated-measures methods. Results: 26% had been homeless; 30% had children and the prevalence of STIs (Chlamydia 23.5% & Gonorrhea 10%) was high of those who tested (n = 81). Significant behavioral changes identified in the Women's Intervention that were not observed in the nutrition group include reduction in the average number of female oral sex acts (p = 0.011) and increase in protected male oral sex acts in the past 30 days. Conclusion: Young African-American women who have unprotected sex and abuse drugs are at risk for STI and HIV transmission through drug and sexual behaviors. However, enrollment in the Women's intervention assists in reducing these risky behaviors by teaching the young women the skills needed to reduce harm and protect themselves.