title: Effectiveness of an intervention to reduce HIV transmission risks in HIV-positive people.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As many as one in three HIV-positive people continue unprotected sexual practices after learning that they are HIV infected. This article reports the outcomes of a theory-based intervention to reduce risk of HIV transmission for people living with HIV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Men (n=233) and women (n=99) living with HIV-AIDS were randomly assigned to receive either (1) a five-session group intervention focused on strategies for practicing safer sexual behavior, or (2) a five-session, contact-matched, health-maintenance support group (standard-of-care comparison). Participants were followed for 6 months post-intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intervention to reduce risk of HIV transmission resulted in significantly less unprotected intercourse and greater condom use at follow-up. Transmission-risk behaviors with non-HIV-positive sexual partners and estimated HIV transmission rates over a 1-year horizon were also significantly lower for the behavioral risk-reduction intervention group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study is among the first to demonstrate successful HIV-transmission risk reduction resulting from a behavioral intervention tailored for HIV-positive men and women.
authors.affiliation: Center for AIDS Intervention Research, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, USA. sethk@mcw.edu
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kalichman
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rompa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cage
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: DiFonzo
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Austin
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Luke
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buckles
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kyomugisha
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Benotsch
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pinkerton
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Graham
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013223:Statistics as Topic