title: Motivational interviewing targeting risky sex in HIV-positive young Thai men who have sex with men.
abstract: Motivational interviewing (MI) has been shown to reduce sexual risks among HIV-positive men who have sex with men (HMSM) in the US. We conducted a randomized trial of Healthy Choices, a 4-session MI intervention, targeting sexual risks among 110 HIV-positive youth ages 16-25 years in Thailand. Risk assessments were conducted at baseline, 1 month, and 6 months post-intervention. This report presents the analysis of 74 HMSM in the study. There were 37 HMSM in the Intervention group and 37 in the control group. The proportions of participants having anal sex and having sex with either HIV-uninfected or unknown partners in past 30 days were significantly lower in Intervention group than in Control group at 6 months post-intervention (38 vs. 65 %, p = .04; and 27 vs. 62 %, p < .01, respectively). There were no significant differences in general mental health scores and HIV stigma scores between the two groups at any study visit. Thirty-five (95 %) HMSM in the Intervention group vs. 31 (84 %) in control group attended ≥ 3 sessions. Loss to follow-up was 8 and 30 %, respectively (p = .04). Healthy Choices for young Thai HMSM was associated with sexual risk reduction. Improvements in mental health were noted in Intervention group. Healthy Choices is a promising behavioral intervention and should be further developed to serve the needs of young HMSM in resource-limited countries.
authors.affiliation: The Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 3901 Beaubien Blvd., Detroit, MI, 48201, USA, crongkav@dmc.org.
authors.forename: Chokechai
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rongkavilit
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naar-King
authors.forename: Torsak
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bunupuradah
authors.forename: Jeffrey T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.forename: Apirudee
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Panthong
authors.forename: Juline A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Koken
authors.forename: Pichai
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saengcharnchai
authors.forename: Praphan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Phanuphak
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D062405:Motivational Interviewing; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013785:Thailand; D055815:Young Adult