Training South African mental health care providers to talk about sex in the era of AIDS.
OBJECTIVE
Mental health care providers in South Africa often lack the skills to conduct effective prevention activities in psychiatric settings. This article describes the development and evaluation of an HIV education program for mental health care providers at three psychiatric institutions in South Africa.


METHODS
The research team worked with a core group of 16 mental health care providers to assess HIV training needs and to develop a training intervention focused on identified issues. The training intervention was administered to three groups (42 total) during three 1.5-day workshops. Providers completed pre- and post-intervention assessments that measured knowledge and attitudes about HIV and AIDS.


RESULTS
Data analysis revealed a significant increase in reported levels of comfort with HIV care (d=.54), perceived knowledge of HIV (d=1.17), and factual knowledge (d=.74).


CONCLUSIONS
This contextually relevant HIV education curriculum changed providers' attitudes and knowledge, demonstrated the feasibility of administering the training program, and provided a foundation for further prevention activities.
Collins
Pamela Y
PY
New York State Psaychiatric Institute, and Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA. pyc1@columbia.edu
Mestry
Kezziah
K
Wainberg
Milton L
ML
Nzama
Thobile
T
Lindegger
Graham
G
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006293:Health Promotion; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013019:South Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D000078329:Workforce