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

Abstract #64304

S. Marie Harvey, DrPH¹, Heather Huszti, PhD², and America Casillas¹. (1) Center for the Study of Women in Society, University of Oregon, 1201 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, (541) 346-4120, mharvey@oregon.uoregon.edu, (2) Health Psychology, Children's Hospital of Orange County, 455 S Main Street, Orange, CA 92868

While nearly 2/3 of all cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are diagnosed in young adults, previous research has suggested that few feel vulnerable to infection with HIV or other STIs, and consequently do not use safer sexual behaviors, particularly with primary partners. Given that individuals are often at risk of infection through their primary partners, it is important to develop interventions that increase the use of safer sexual behaviors in young couples. An intervention was developed for young women (18 to 25 years old) at current increased risk and their primary male sexual partner. This randomized clinical trial consisted of two arms, a comparison and intervention condition. The one session comparison condition presents the community educational standard of care for the prevention of HIV/STIs, and unintended pregnancy. The three session intervention condition focused on enhancing motivation and building necessary behavioral skills. Interventions emphasized the efficacy of condoms to prevent both transmission of diseases and unintended pregnancy. This presentation will examine changes in safer sexual behavior and associated intrapersonal constructs including, condom use intentions, attitudes towards condoms, perceived vulnerability and condom use self efficacy from baseline to 3 month follow-up in the 303 couples who participated in the intervention and compare changes in participants in the control and intervention conditions. A total of 75% of randomized couples were intact at 3 months and are included in the analysis. Implications of the findings for the efficacy of the couples based intervention will also be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to:
• discuss the changes in intrapersonal variables associated with increased condom use including, condom use intentions, attitudes towards condoms, perceived vulnerability and condom use self efficacy from baseline to 3 month follow-up assessments;
• discuss the efficacy of a specific intervention for young couples at risk for HIV and other STIs through changes in risky sexual behaviors from baseline to 3 month follow-up assessments;
• describe the efficacy of using a couples based intervention to decrease risky sexual behavior in young couples.

Keywords: Prevention, HIV/AIDS

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.