Long Term Effects of Community-Based STI Screening and Mass Media HIV Prevention Messages on Sexual Risk Behaviors of African American Adolescents

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Sharon Sznitman, University of Pennsylvania; Bonita F. Stanton, Wayne State University; Peter A. Vanable, Syracuse University; Michael P. Carey, Syracuse University; Robert F. Valois, University of South Carolina; Larry K. Brown, Brown University; Ralph Diclemente, Emory University; Michael Hennessy, University of Pennsylvania; Laura F. Salazar, Emory University; Daniel Romer, University of Pennsylvania
• Language: English
• Date: 2011-11-01
• Publisher: Springer (part of Springer Nature): Springer Open Choice Hybrid Journals
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10461-011-9946-6
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: AIDS and Behavior
• ISSN: 1090-7165
• Volume: 15
• Issue: 8
• Start Page: 1755
• End Page: 1763
• Grant/Funding Information: The data stem from a cooperative agreement funded by the US National Institute of Mental Health, Office on AIDS, Pim Brouwers, Project Officer.
• Keywords: Social Sciences, Biomedical; US CITIES; STRATEGY; Biomedical Social Sciences; TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS; TRANSMISSION; Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; RELIABILITY; African American adolescent; Community-based STI screening; Social Sciences; Mass media interventions; STI/HIV prevention; DISEASES; ORAL SEX; COMMUNICATION; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
• Research Categories: Sociology, Ethnic and Racial Studies; Health Sciences, Public Health; Psychology, Behavioral

Abstract

We examined the long-term effects of two interventions designed to reduce sexual risk behavior among African American adolescents. African American adolescents (N = 1383, ages 14-17) were recruited from community-based organizations over a period of 16 months in two northeastern and two southeastern midsized U.S. cities with high rates of sexually transmitted infection (STI). Participants were screened for three STIs (gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis) and completed an audio computer-assisted attitude, intention, and behavior self-interview. Youth who tested positive for an STI (8.3%) received treatment and risk reduction counseling. In addition, television and radio HIV-prevention messages were delivered during the recruitment period and 18 months of follow-up in one randomly selected city in each region. Analyses determined effects of the media program for those receiving a positive versus negative STI test result on number of sexual partners and occurrence of unprotected sex. Adolescents who tested STI-positive reduced their number of vaginal sex partners and the probability of unprotected sex over the first 6 months. However, in the absence of the mass media program, adolescents returned to their previously high levels of sexual risk behavior after 6 months. Adolescents who tested STI-positive and received the mass media program showed more stable reductions in unprotected sex. Community- based STI treatment and counseling can achieve significant, but short-lived reductions in sexual risk behavior among STI-positive youth. A culturally sensitive mass media program has the potential to achieve more stable reductions in sexual risk behavior and can help to optimize the effects of community-based STI screening.