title: A brief intervention for prevention of sexually transmitted infection among battered women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the feasibility and acceptability of a combined brief nursing intervention (BNI) to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and intimate partner violence (IPV) among rural women attending a family planning clinic. The primary outcomes of interest were frequency and severity of IPV, the number of safety behaviors implemented by women, and the number of safer sex strategies used at 3 months postintervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  A one-group pretest/posttest design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rural health department family planning clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-eight women were screened for IPV. Nineteen (21.4%) screened positive for past-year history of IPV, and 18 completed the intervention and data collection (baseline and 3 months).
  
  
  METHODS
  Women who screened positive for IPV were given a BNI addressing IPV and STI prevention. Severity and frequency of violence, IPV safety behaviors, and safer sex behaviors were measured at baseline and 3 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency of physical (p = .02) and sexual (p = .05) violence decreased from baseline to 3-month follow-up. Although not statistically significant the number of safer sex behaviors reported increased from baseline to follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This BNI shows promise, though findings must be interpreted with caution due to small sample, lack of a control group, and no randomization. It was feasible to deliver the intervention in clinic settings.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Virginia, Charlottesville,VA, USA.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Laughon
authors.forename: Melissa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sutherland
authors.forename: Barbara J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Parker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D018585:Battered Women / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D021841:Safe Sex; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States; D014505:Urban Population; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult