BACKGROUND: HIV is devastating southern Africa and alcohol use is closely related to HIV transmission risks. PURPOSE: The current study tested the efficacy of a brief single-session HIV-alcohol risk-reduction intervention for men and women who drink at informal alcohol serving establishments (i.e., shebeens) in South Africa. METHODS: A randomized community field trial recruited men (N = 117) and women (N = 236) through outreach and chain referrals. Participants received either: (a) 3-h theory-based behavioral HIV-alcohol risk-reduction intervention that focused on skills training for sexual negotiation and condom use or (b) 1-h HIV-alcohol information/education control group. Participants were followed up for 3 and 6 months post-intervention with 89% retention. RESULTS: The risk-reduction intervention demonstrated significantly less unprotected intercourse, alcohol use before sex, numbers of sex partners, partners met at drinking establishments and greater condom use relative to the control group. However, intervention effects were moderated by alcohol use; lighter drinkers demonstrated significantly more intervention gains than heavier drinkers in the risk-reduction condition. Intervention effects occurred at 3 months follow-up and dissipated by 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: A brief HIV risk-reduction intervention reduced sexual-risk behaviors among drinkers in South Africa. However, intervention effects were weakest for those who drink heaviest. Our results provide a basis for establishing HIV prevention in alcohol serving establishments in South Africa. Research is needed to identify multi-level intervention models that can reduce risks among heavier drinkers and sustain behavior changes over time.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: HIV is devastating southern Africa and alcohol use is closely related to HIV transmission risks. PURPOSE: The current study tested the efficacy of a brief single-session HIV-alcohol risk-reduction intervention for men and women who drink at informal alcohol serving establishments (i.e., shebeens) in South Africa. METHODS: A randomized community field trial recruited men (N = 117) and women (N = 236) through outreach and chain referrals. Participants received either: (a) 3-h theory-based behavioral HIV-alcohol risk-reduction intervention that focused on skills training for sexual negotiation and condom use or (b) 1-h HIV-alcohol information/education control group. Participants were followed up for 3 and 6 months post-intervention with 89% retention. RESULTS: The risk-reduction intervention demonstrated significantly less unprotected intercourse, alcohol use before sex, numbers of sex partners, partners met at drinking establishments and greater condom use relative to the control group. However, intervention effects were moderated by alcohol use; lighter drinkers demonstrated significantly more intervention gains than heavier drinkers in the risk-reduction condition. Intervention effects occurred at 3 months follow-up and dissipated by 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: A brief HIV risk-reduction intervention reduced sexual-risk behaviors among drinkers in South Africa. However, intervention effects were weakest for those who drink heaviest. Our results provide a basis for establishing HIV prevention in alcohol serving establishments in South Africa. Research is needed to identify multi-level intervention models that can reduce risks among heavier drinkers and sustain behavior changes over time.
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Authors: Jürgen Rehm; Dolly Baliunas; Guilherme L G Borges; Kathryn Graham; Hyacinth Irving; Tara Kehoe; Charles D Parry; Jayadeep Patra; Svetlana Popova; Vladimir Poznyak; Michael Roerecke; Robin Room; Andriy V Samokhvalov; Benjamin Taylor Journal: Addiction Date: 2010-03-15 Impact factor: 6.526
Authors: Lisa A Eaton; Eileen V Pitpitan; Seth C Kalichman; Kathleen J Sikkema; Donald Skinner; Melissa H Watt; Desiree Pieterse; Demetria N Cain Journal: Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse Date: 2014-03 Impact factor: 3.829
Authors: Emily C Williams; Judith A Hahn; Richard Saitz; Kendall Bryant; Marlene C Lira; Jeffrey H Samet Journal: Alcohol Clin Exp Res Date: 2016-09-22 Impact factor: 3.455