Efficacy of a behavioral intervention for increasing safer sex behaviors in HIV-positive MSM methamphetamine users: results from the EDGE study.
BACKGROUND
Methamphetamine use has been associated with rising STI/HIV transmission rates, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM). Interventions which successfully reduce risk for HIV transmission among this population are a public health priority. This study examined the efficacy of a behavioral intervention for increasing safer sex behaviors in the context of ongoing methamphetamine use in a sample of HIV-positive, methamphetamine-using MSM.


METHODS
Three-hundred and forty-one participants from San Diego, CA were randomly assigned to receive either a safer sex behavioral intervention (EDGE) or a time-equivalent diet-and-exercise attention-control condition. Random effects regression analyses were used to evaluate change in safer sex behaviors over a 12-month period.


RESULTS
Participants in the EDGE intervention engaged in significantly more protected sex acts at the 8-month (p=0.034) and 12-month assessment (p=0.007). By 12-months post-baseline, a greater percentage of protected sex acts was observed for EDGE (25.8%) vs. control participants (18.7%) (p=0.038). There was a significant time-by-intervention interaction (p=0.018) for self-efficacy for condom use, suggesting that EDGE participants' self-efficacy demonstrated a greater increase over time compared to control participants.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that it is possible to reduce high risk sexual behaviors in the context of ongoing methamphetamine use among HIV-infected MSM.
Mausbach
Brent T
BT
Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0680, USA.
Semple
Shirley J
SJ
Strathdee
Steffanie A
SA
Zians
Jim
J
Patterson
Thomas L
TL
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D017280:Condoms; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D006716:Homosexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine; D021841:Safe Sex / Q000523:psychology*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012736:Sex Education; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*
D008694:Methamphetamine