title: Brief sexuality communication--a behavioural intervention to advance sexually transmitted infection/HIV prevention: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Throughout the last decade substantial research has been undertaken to develop evidence-based behaviour change interventions for sexual health promotion. Primary care could provide an opportunistic entry for brief sexual health communication.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We conducted a systematic review to explore opportunistic sexual and reproductive health services for sexual health communication delivered at primary health care level.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched for studies on PubMed, ProQuest, CINAHL, Jstor, Scopus/Science Direct, Cochrane database of systematic reviews, EBSCO, CINAHL, PsychoInfo, and Web of Knowledge. Both published and unpublished articles were reviewed.
  
  
  METHODS
  All randomised controlled trials and controlled clinical trials were included. Participants of all ages, from adolescence onwards were included. Brief (10-60 minutes) interventions including some aspect of communication on sexual health issues were included.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were extracted by two reviewers independently using a standardised form. Interventions differed from each other, hence meta-analysis was not performed, and results are presented individually.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 247 articles were selected for full-text evaluation, 31 of which were included. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)/HIV were less often reported in the intervention group compared with the control group. Condom use was higher in most studies in the intervention group. Numbers of sexual partners and unprotected sexual intercourse were lower in the intervention groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is evidence that brief counselling interventions have some effect in the reduction and prevention of STIs/HIV. Some questions could not be answered, such as the effect over time and in different settings and population groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Toskin
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kulier
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hawkes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D049168:Pregnancy, Unplanned; D012731:Sex Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: behaviour change intervention; population; reproductive health services/utilisation; sex counselling; sexually transmitted diseases/prevention; vulnerable