title: Peer group intervention for HIV prevention among health workers in Chile.
abstract: We tested the impacts of a professionally assisted peer-group intervention on Chilean health workers' HIV-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors using a quasi-experimental design with a pretest and 3-month posttest. Two Santiago suburbs were randomly assigned to the intervention or delayed intervention control condition. Five community clinics per suburb participated. Interested workers at the intervention (n = 262) and control (n = 293) clinics participated and completed both evaluations. At posttest, intervention clinic workers had higher knowledge and more positive attitudes regarding HIV, condoms, stigmatization, and self-efficacy for prevention. They reported more partner discussion about safer sex, less unprotected sex, and more involvement in HIV prevention activities in the clinic and the community, but they did not report fewer sexual partners or more standard precautions behaviors. Because of these positive impacts, the program will become a regular continuing education unit that can be used to meet health-worker licensing requirements.
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois, Chicago, USA.
authors.forename: Kathleen F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Norr
authors.forename: Lilian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferrer
authors.forename: Rosina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cianelli
authors.forename: Kathleen S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Crittenden
authors.forename: Lisette
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Irarrázabal
authors.forename: Báltica
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cabieses
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Araya
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bernales
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002677:Chile; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010379:Peer Group