J. Gary Linn, PhD, School of Nursing, Tennessee State University, 1406 Beechwood Avenue, Nashville, TN 37212, 615-297-1354, jlinn87844@aol.com and Baqar A. Husaini, PhD, Center for Health Research, Tennessee State University, Box 9580, 3500 John A. Merritt Blvd., Nashville, TN 37209.

The rapid spread of HIV to impaired populations has intensified the challenge for HIV prevention; control of the epidemic now requires behavioral change among individuals with limited ability to attend and learn. This study tested an intervention to reduce sexual risk behaviors in a high-risk impaired population: homeless African American woman with mental illness. In a comparison group clinical trial, women were assigned to an experimental cognitive-behavioral or a control intervention and followed up over 6 months. Women were recruited from a psychiatric program in two shelters for homeless women. An ethnically mixed cohort of subjects (68% African-American, 28% Caucasian, and 4% Hispanic) were included in the study. Most had a chronic psychiatric disorder and a co-morbid substance abuse disorder. Among 200 eligible women, 168 (84%) participated. The 150 participants who were sexually active (75 experimental, 75 control) prior to the trial were the main target of the intervention. The experimental intervention comprised 6 group sessions. The control intervention was a 6-session HIV educational program. Sexual risk behavior was the primary outcome. The experimental and control groups were compared with respect to the mean score on a sexual risk index. Complete follow-up data were obtained on 150 women (100%) for the initial six-month follow-up. These individuals are being followed for the remainder of the 15-month follow-up. The mean risk index score of the experimental group was almost three times lower than the mean of the control group (1.3 versus 3.3, p=0.01) during the initial six-month follow-up.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to (
• discuss HIV risk behaviors of homeless mentally ill women, (
• describe alternative approaches to HIV prevention education for this population, and (
• evaluate HIV prevention education activites for homeless mentally ill women.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Homelessness

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.