Efficacy of a health educator-delivered HIV prevention intervention for Latina women: a randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
We developed and assessed AMIGAS (Amigas, Mujeres Latinas, Inform andonos, Gui andonos, y Apoy andonos contra el SIDA [friends, Latina women, informing each other, guiding each other, and supporting each other against AIDS]), a culturally congruent HIV prevention intervention for Latina women adapted from SiSTA (Sistas Informing Sistas about Topics on AIDS), an intervention for African American women.


METHODS
We recruited 252 Latina women aged 18 to 35 years in Miami, Florida, in 2008 to 2009 and randomized them to the 4-session AMIGAS intervention or a 1-session health intervention. Participants completed audio computer-assisted self-interviews at baseline and follow-up.


RESULTS
Over the 6-month follow-up, AMIGAS participants reported more consistent condom use during the past 90 (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 4.81; P < .001) and 30 (AOR = 3.14; P < .001) days and at last sexual encounter (AOR = 2.76; P < .001), and a higher mean percentage condom use during the past 90 (relative change = 55.7%; P < .001) and 30 (relative change = 43.8%; P < .001) days than did comparison participants. AMIGAS participants reported fewer traditional views of gender roles (P = .008), greater self-efficacy for negotiating safer sex (P < .001), greater feelings of power in relationships (P = .02), greater self-efficacy for using condoms (P < .001), and greater HIV knowledge (P = .009) and perceived fewer barriers to using condoms (P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results support the efficacy of this linguistically and culturally adapted HIV intervention among ethnically diverse, predominantly foreign-born Latina women.
Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. gwingoo@sph.emory.edu
Gina M
GM
Wingood
Ralph J
RJ
DiClemente
Kira
K
Villamizar
Deja L
DL
Er
Martina
M
DeVarona
Janelle
J
Taveras
Thomas M
TM
Painter
Delia L
DL
Lang
James W
JW
Hardin
Evelyn
E
Ullah
JoAna
J
Stallworth
David W
DW
Purcell
Reynald
R
Jean
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006266:Health Education; D040441:Health Educators; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D055815:Young Adult