title: The mediating role of partner communication frequency on condom use among African American adolescent females participating in an HIV prevention intervention.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although effective HIV prevention interventions have been developed for adolescents, few interventions have explored whether components of the intervention are responsible for the observed changes in behaviors postintervention. This study examined the mediating role of partner communication frequency on African American adolescent females' condom use postparticipation in a demonstrated efficacious HIV risk-reduction intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  As part of a randomized controlled trial, African American adolescent females (N = 715), 15-21 years, seeking sexual health services, completed a computerized interview at baseline (prior to intervention) and again 6 and 12 months follow-up post-intervention participation. The interview assessed adolescents' sexual behavior and partner communication skills, among other variables, at each time point. Using generalized estimating equation (GEE) techniques, both logistic and linear regression models were employed to test mediation over the 12-month follow-up period. Additional tests were conducted to assess the significance of the mediated models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mediation analyses observed that partner communication frequency was a significant partial mediator of both proportion of condom-protected sex acts (p = .001) and consistent condom use (p = .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Partner communication frequency, an integral component of this HIV intervention, significantly increased as a function of participating in the intervention, partially explaining the change in condom use observed 12 months postintervention. Understanding what intervention components are associated with behavior change is important for future intervention development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. jmcderm@emory.edu
authors.forename: Jessica M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sales
authors.forename: Delia L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Ralph J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: DiClemente
authors.forename: Teaniese P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Latham
authors.forename: Gina M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Wingood
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Hardin
authors.forename: Eve S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Rose
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006678:HIV; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D017008:Negotiating; D011203:Poverty / Q000517:prevention & control; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D021841:Safe Sex / Q000208:ethnology*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D012747:Sexual Partners; D055815:Young Adult