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Intervention Description
Intervention Package Information
Evaluation Study and Results
References and Contact Information
Intervention Description
Target Population
HIV-negative heterosexual Hispanic women
Goals of Intervention
- Eliminate or reduce sex risk
behavior
Brief Description
The Women’s Health Promotion (WHP)
intervention includes twelve intensive
90- to -120-minute sessions delivered
over 12 weeks. The WHP consists of four
standard HIV education sessions (lasting
about 6 to 9 hours) that address HIV
transmission and prevention, sexually
transmitted diseases, sexual and
reproductive anatomy, condom practice,
and condom negotiation skills. These
sessions use lectures, group discussion,
and skill-building exercises and games
to teach participants. The eight
additional sessions involve speakers on
a variety of topics deemed relevant by
participants, including general mental
health, depression, cervical cancer,
non-HIV-related partner communication,
diabetes, nutrition, partner violence,
oppression, and social justice.
WHP is implemented in small, closed
groups comprised of 10 to 16 women,
co-facilitated by two bilingual
community health educators, and
conducted in Spanish. |
Theoretic Basis
- Social Cognitive Theory
- Theory of Reasoned Action
- Health Belief Model
Intervention Duration
Twelve 90- to 120-minute sessions delivered
over 12 weeks
Intervention Settings
Community clinic serving largely
Hispanic clients
Deliverer
Two trained bilingual community health
educators. The primary facilitator is a
respected community leader with experience
in HIV education.
Delivery Methods
- Exercises
- Games
- Group discussions
- Lectures
- Practice
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Intervention Package Information
An intervention package is not available at this time. Please contact Dr.
Anita Raj, PhD, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street,
T2W, Boston, MA 02118 e-mail: anitaraj@bu.edu
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Evaluation Study and Results
The original evaluation was conducted in
Boston, Massachusetts.
Key Intervention Effects
Study Sample
The analytic study sample of 162 Hispanic women is characterized by the
following:
- 100% Hispanic (55% Dominican, 13%
Puerto Rican, 13% Central American, 8%
South American)
- 100% Female
- 100% Heterosexual
- Mean age of 29 years
- 71% completed high school
education
Recruitment Settings
Housing projects, clinics, and community
service programs (i.e., ESL, GED, and non-HIV health education
classes)
Eligibility Criteria
Spanish-speaking Hispanic women were
eligible if they were between 18 and 35
years old, engaged in sexual intercourse
with a steady male partner during the past 3
months, did not use a condom or engaged in
inconsistent condom use with a steady male
partner during the past 3 months, did not
engage in injection drug use or sex trade in
the past 6 months, and had no plan to
relocate from their Boston-based community
in the next year.
Assignment Method
Women (N = 170) were assigned, in a manner without apparent bias, to
1 of 3 groups: Women’s Health Promotion (WHP;
n = 56), HIV Intensive Prevention (HIV-IP; n
= 44), or wait list control (n = 70).
Comparison Group
The control participants received HIV
prevention material and referrals and were
on a waiting list for a 12-week HIV
prevention program after study completion.
Relevant Outcomes Measured and Follow-up Time
- Sex behaviors during past 3 months
(including frequency of condom use with
main male partner during vaginal sex,
condom use every time, and mean number
of sex partners) were measured at
immediate-post, 3-month, and 15-month
follow-ups.
- Communication/negotiation index
(including refused to have sex without a
condom, demanded partner use a condom)
during past 3 months was assessed at
immediate-post, 3-month, and 15-month
follow-ups.
- HIV testing behavior during past 3
months was assessed at immediate-post,
3-month, and 15-month follow-ups.
Participant Retention
- WHP:
96% retained at 3 months
75% retained at 15 months
- HIV-IP:
91% retained at 3 months
73% retained at 15 months
- Wait List Control:
87% retained at 3 months
77% retained at 15 months
Significant Findings
Women receiving the WHP intervention
were significantly more likely to use
condoms during vaginal sex with their
main male partner compared to women in
the wait list control at the 3-month
follow-up (p < .05).
Considerations
- The WHP intervention effect on condom use was not significant at the
15-month follow up.
- The HIV-IP intervention fails to meet the best-evidence or
promising-evidence criteria because the adjusted analyses did not yield
significant findings for the relevant outcomes.
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References and Contact Information
- Raj, A., Amaro, H., Cranston, K., Martin, B., Cabral, H., Navarro, et al. (2001). Is a general women's health promotion program as effective as an HIV-intensive prevention program in reducing HIV risk among Hispanic women? Public Health Reports, 116, 599-607.
- Amaro, H., Raj, A., Reed, E., & Cranston, K. (2002). Implementation and long-term outcomes of two HIV intervention programs for Latinas. Health Promotion Practice, 3, 245-254.
Researcher: Dr. Anita Raj, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, T2W, Boston, MA 02118. email:
anitaraj@bu.edu
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