Efficacy of an HIV prevention intervention for African American adolescent girls: a randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
African American adolescent girls are at high risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, but interventions specifically designed for this population have not reduced HIV risk behaviors.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of an intervention to reduce sexual risk behaviors, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and pregnancy and enhance mediators of HIV-preventive behaviors.


METHODS
Randomized controlled trial of 522 sexually experienced African American girls aged 14 to 18 years screened from December 1996 through April 1999 at 4 community health agencies. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire and an interview, demonstrated condom application skills, and provided specimens for STD testing. Outcome assessments were made at 6- and 12-month follow-up.


METHODS
All participants received four 4-hour group sessions. The intervention emphasized ethnic and gender pride, HIV knowledge, communication, condom use skills, and healthy relationships. The comparison condition emphasized exercise and nutrition.


METHODS
The primary outcome measure was consistent condom use, defined as condom use during every episode of vaginal intercourse; other outcome measures were sexual behaviors, observed condom application skills, incident STD infection, self-reported pregnancy, and mediators of HIV-preventive behaviors.


RESULTS
Relative to the comparison condition, participants in the intervention reported using condoms more consistently in the 30 days preceding the 6-month assessment (unadjusted analysis, intervention, 75.3% vs comparison, 58.2%) and the 12-month assessment (unadjusted analysis, intervention, 73.3% vs comparison, 56.5%) and over the entire 12-month period (adjusted odds ratio, 2.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.28-3.17; P =.003). Participants in the intervention reported using condoms more consistently in the 6 months preceding the 6-month assessment (unadjusted analysis, intervention, 61.3% vs comparison, 42.6%), at the 12-month assessment (unadjusted analysis, intervention, 58.1% vs comparison, 45.3%), and over the entire 12-month period (adjusted odds ratio, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.51-3.50; P<.001). Using generalized estimating equation analyses over the 12-month follow-up, adolescents in the intervention were more likely to use a condom at last intercourse, less likely to have a new vaginal sex partner in the past 30 days, and more likely to apply condoms to sex partners and had better condom application skills, a higher percentage of condom-protected sex acts, fewer unprotected vaginal sex acts, and higher scores on measures of mediators. Promising effects were also observed for chlamydia infections and self-reported pregnancy.


CONCLUSIONS
Interventions for African American adolescent girls that are gender-tailored and culturally congruent can enhance HIV-preventive behaviors, skills, and mediators and may reduce pregnancy and chlamydia infection.
DiClemente
Ralph J
RJ
Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Division of Infectious Diseases, Epidemiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, Ga 30322, USA. rdiclem@sph.emory.edu
Wingood
Gina M
GM
Harrington
Kathy F
KF
Lang
Delia L
DL
Davies
Susan L
SL
Hook
Edward W
EW
Oh
M Kim
MK
Crosby
Richard A
RA
Hertzberg
Vicki Stover
VS
Gordon
Angelita B
AB
Hardin
James W
JW
Parker
Shan
S
Robillard
Alyssa
A
D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D040261:Harm Reduction; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States