The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #59945

Yara Ghossein, MPH¹, Nadia Minian, MPhil¹, Christopher Godfrey, PhD(c)¹, Beatrice Krauss, PhD¹, Peter Nwakeze, PhD¹, and Nicholas Freudenberg, DrPH². (1) Hunter College Center on AIDS, Drugs and Community Health, 425 East 25th Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10010, (2) City University of New York, Program in Urban Public Health at Hunter College, 425 East 25th Street, New York, NY 10010

Prevention Case Management (PCM) is designed for high-risk individuals who may not be able to adopt HIV risk reduction behaviors due to multiple, complex psychosocial problems that are often more pressing. PCM seeks to aid clients to alleviate depression and stress, subsequently enabling them to decrease risk behavior and prioritize HIV prevention.

A five year, evaluation study of PCM programs at ten Community-Based Organizations throughout New York City is currently being conducted. A questionnaire including measures of depression (CES-D) and risk behaviors is administered to PCM clients at baseline and again 90 days later. As of January 2003, 502 participants had completed both assessments. Analysis showed:

•A greater number of participants had clinically depressive symptoms at baseline (61%) than at 90 days (51%). This pattern of change is significant (McNemar’s X2 test p=.000).

•Participants used dirty needles more often at baseline (M=1.64, SD=1.697) than at 90 days (M=1.17, SD= 0.785), t (2.054), p<.05.

•Participants shared cookers more often at baseline (M=2.13, SD=2.425) than at 90 days (M=1.43, SD= 1.548), t (2.462), p<.05.

•Participants had sex without condoms more often at baseline (M=1.43, SD=.887) than at 90 days (M=1.23, SD=.6) t (3.788), p <.000.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the session, participants will be able to:
• Describe the components of PCM, and their affect on mental health, high risk behavior and lifestyle changes.
• Discuss the application of PCM to a broader arena and potential as a primary prevention strategy for high-risk individuals.

Keywords: Prevention, HIV Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.