title: Effectiveness of a risk reduction intervention among African American women who use crack cocaine.
abstract: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an HIV intervention for African American women who use crack cocaine. Two hundred sixty-five women (aged 18-59 years) were randomly assigned to one of two enhanced intervention conditions or to the National Institute on Drug Abuse standard condition. A substantial proportion of women reported no past 30-day crack use at 6-month follow-up (100%-61%, p < .001). Significant (P < .05) decreases in the frequency of crack use; the number of paying partners; the number of times vaginal, oral, or anal sex was had with a paying partner; and sexual risks, such as trading sex for drugs, were reported over time. Significant (p < .05) increases in male condom use with sex partners were observed, as well as decreases in casual partners' refusal of condoms. Findings suggest that combined components of our culturally appropriate, gender-tailored intervention may be most effective at enhancing preventive behavior among similar populations.
authors.affiliation: Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. csterk@sph.emory.edu
authors.forename: Claire E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Sterk
authors.forename: Katherine P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Theall
authors.forename: Kirk W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Elifson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000193:education*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000208:ethnology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D016578:Crack Cocaine; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012309:Risk-Taking; D021841:Safe Sex; D011477:Sex Work; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016578:Crack Cocaine