An intervention for changing high-risk HIV behaviors of African American drug-dependent women.
The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of an AIDS education intervention for methadone-dependent, African American women. The women were randomly assigned to experimental (n=107) or control (n=97) group. The experimental group participated in a peer counseling and leadership training program conducted by two experienced nurse counselors over an 8-week period, followed by 8 weeks of reinforcement. The program was designed to reduce AIDS high-risk sexual behavior, increase self-esteem, decrease depressive affect, and increase the women's community-based AIDS prevention communication activities. A total of 130 women completed all phases of the study, including longitudinal Posttests at 2, 4, and 7 months after enrollment. Compared to the control group, there were statistically significant differences in three of the outcomes for the experimental group: The experimental group reported an increased number of safer sexual behaviors (p=.029), showed decreases in depression (p=.001), and reported engaging in more AIDS-related, community-based communication activities regarding prevention (p=.005).
Harris
R M
RM
University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore 21201, USA.
Bausell
R B
RB
Scott
D E
DE
Hetherington
S E
SE
Kavanagh
K H
KH
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009294:Narcotics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D010379:Peer Group; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012649:Self Concept; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology
D009294:Narcotics; D008691:Methadone