Effectiveness of HIV/STD sexual risk reduction groups for women in substance abuse treatment programs: results of NIDA Clinical Trials Network Trial.
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.
Tross
Susan
S
Department of Psychiatry, HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA. st130@columbia.edu
Campbell
Aimee N C
AN
Cohen
Lisa R
LR
Calsyn
Donald
D
Pavlicova
Martina
M
Miele
Gloria M
GM
Hu
Mei-Chen
MC
Haynes
Louise
L
Nugent
Nancy
N
Gan
Weijin
W
Hatch-Maillette
Mary
M
Mandler
Raul
R
McLaughlin
Paul
P
El-Bassel
Nabila
N
Crits-Christoph
Paul
P
Nunes
Edward V
EV
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*