title: Training South African mental health care providers to talk about sex in the era of AIDS.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: New York State Psaychiatric Institute, and Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA. pyc1@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Pamela Y
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: Kezziah
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mestry
authors.forename: Milton L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Wainberg
authors.forename: Thobile
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nzama
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lindegger
mesh_terms: 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