Comparison of Two Psycho-Educational Interventions Aimed at Preventing HIV and Promoting Sexual Health Among Portuguese Women

ABSTRACT

This study compares the efficacy of 2 psychoeducational interventions—ACCENT skills-based and didactic information only—to prevent HIV among Portuguese women. At posttest and follow-up, participants in both intervention groups (n = 127) were more knowledgeable about HIV than at baseline. Although both intervention groups showed an increase in self-reported condom use over time, differences were marginally stronger in the ACCENT group. Both intervention groups showed more positive results than the non-intervention control group (n = 33). The study suggests that HIV prevention interventions can produce significant changes when they target a set of knowledge, social, and cognitive variables relevant to sexual behavior change.

KEYWORDS:

• HIV prevention
• health promotion
• sexual risk
• behavior change
• women

Funding

This work was supported by a grant (SFRH/BD/6386/2001) from the Portuguese Foundation of Science and Technology and also by a grant (Project ADIS/0045/03) from the National AIDS Commission, Portuguese Ministry of Health. We thank all the patients that agreed to participate in this study.