Effectiveness of interventions to prevent sexually transmitted infections and human immunodeficiency virus in heterosexual men: a systematic review.
Our objective was to review systematically studies of interventions to prevent transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in heterosexual men. Of 1157 studies identified through database and hand searching, 27 met our inclusion criteria. Most interventions targeted specific groups of men (eg, those attending STI clinics) rather than general populations. Few were conducted with men alone, and most focused on behavioral and social psychological rather than morbidity outcomes. Of 8 interventions designed to reduce STI incidence (including HIV), 5 were successful, 2 were unsuccessful, and 1 had equivocal results. Of the 5 successful interventions, 1 was carried out in the workplace, 1 in the military, and 3 in STI clinics.They included on-site individual counseling and HIV testing, mass communications regarding risk reduction, and multiple-component motivation and skills education in STI clinics. More high-quality research into the effectiveness of interventions targeting heterosexual men is needed, especially methodologically sound trials to evaluate effects on morbidity.
Medical Research Council Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, 4 Lilybank Gardens, Glasgow G12 8RZ, Scotland. graham@mrc.msoc.gla.ac.uk
A Rani
AR
Elwy
Graham J
GJ
Hart
Sarah
S
Hawkes
Mark
M
Petticrew
D001294:Attitude to Health; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D020010:Heterosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000592:standards; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012107:Research Design; D012307:Risk Factors; D012736:Sex Education / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*