title: Effectiveness of HIV/STD sexual risk reduction groups for women in substance abuse treatment programs: results of NIDA Clinical Trials Network Trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Because drug-involved women are among the fastest growing groups with AIDS, sexual risk reduction intervention for them is a public health imperative.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To test effectiveness of HIV/STD safer sex skills building (SSB) groups for women in community drug treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized trial of SSB versus standard HIV/STD Education (HE); assessments at baseline, 3 and 6 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women recruited from 12 methadone or psychosocial treatment programs in Clinical Trials Network of National Institute on Drug Abuse. Five hundred fifteen women with >or=1 unprotected vaginal or anal sex occasion (USO) with a male partner in the past 6 months were randomized.
  
  
  METHODS
  In SSB, five 90-minute groups used problem solving and skills rehearsal to increase HIV/STD risk awareness, condom use, and partner negotiation skills. In HE, one 60-minute group covered HIV/STD disease, testing, treatment, and prevention information.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Number of USOs at follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant difference in mean USOs was obtained between SSB and HE over time (F = 67.2, P < 0.0001). At 3 months, significant decrements were observed in both conditions. At 6 months, SSB maintained the decrease and HE returned to baseline (P < 0.0377). Women in SSB had 29% fewer USOs than those in HE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Skills building interventions can produce ongoing sexual risk reduction in women in community drug treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA. st130@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tross
authors.forename: Aimee N C
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Lisa R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Calsyn
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pavlicova
authors.forename: Gloria M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Miele
authors.forename: Mei-Chen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Haynes
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nugent
authors.forename: Weijin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hatch-Maillette
authors.forename: Raul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mandler
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
authors.forename: Nabila
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: El-Bassel
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Crits-Christoph
authors.forename: Edward V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Nunes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000517:prevention & control*