title: Timing of HIV interventions on reductions in sexual risk among adolescents.
abstract: Examined the effectiveness of an HIV intervention program among 151 adolescents ages 13 to 24 years who were randomly assigned to (a) seven sessions of 1.5 hr each (10.5 hr); (b) three sessions of 3.5 hr each (10.5 hr); or (c) a no-intervention condition. Using cognitive-behavioral intervention strategies, social skills and HIV-related beliefs, perceptions, and norms were targeted in both the three- and seven-session, small-group intervention conditions. Regression analysis indicated that over 3 months, the number of unprotected risk acts and the number of sexual partners were lower in the seven-session condition compared to the other conditions. Factors mediating risk acts changed in a complex manner. For example, perceived vulnerability increased for those with initially lower vulnerability scores among youths in the seven-session condition compared to others. Self-approval of condom use was also higher for those with initially low scores in the seven-session compared to the three-session condition. Self-efficacy for risk avoidance and condom use was significantly higher in the three-session condition for those with initially low scores compared to other groups. On the role-play measure, those with higher baseline scores in the low-pressure situation improved significantly only in the three-session intervention; in the high-pressure situation, the participants reported significantly higher scores in the seven-session intervention, and those with higher scores improved the most. Results suggest the importance of multisession HIV intervention programs to be delivered with fidelity in community settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Los Angeles 90024, USA.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rotheram-Borus
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gwadz
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Srinivasan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D017280:Condoms; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009519:New York City; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013997:Time Factors