Description of Intervention: HIV Education, Testing, and Counseling

The intervention was offered to clients of an STD clinic in Los Angeles.

The intervention consisted of an educational component and an HIV blood test. The educational component included (a) a written pamphlet that explicitly discussed safer and unsafe sexual acts and explained condom use; (b) a 15-minute video that examined HIV-risk behavior and promoted condom use as well as discussing the risk with sex partners; and (c) a 10-minute, one-on-one counseling session with a physician.

The counseling session focused on assessing personal risk, discussing the elements of HIV testing, and answering any questions about HIV/AIDS or testing. [NOTE: See Summary for Kamb, et al. for current HIV testing and counseling protocols.]

After completing the educational module, intervention participants had blood drawn for an HIV test. Test results were revealed to intervention participants approximately 2 weeks after study entry and were accompanied by the same risk-reduction message as during the pretest counseling (for seronegative results) or in-depth counseling (for seropositive results).