A Mixed Methods Evaluation of the Effect of the Protect and Respect Intervention on the Condom Use and Disclosure Practices of Women Living with HIV/AIDS

This mixed methods study evaluated the efficacy of an intervention to increase HIV status disclosure and condom use among 184 women living with HIV/AIDS (WLH/A). Participants were recruited from an HIV clinic and randomly assigned to: (1) a comparison group, who received brief messages from their health care providers (HCPs), or; (2) an intervention group, who received messages from HCPs, a group-level intervention, and peer-led support groups. Participants completed risk surveys at baseline, 6-, 12-, and 18-months. Quantitative analyses using hierarchical generalized linear models within a repeated measures framework indicated that intervention participants had significantly higher odds of reporting condom use with sexual partners in months 6 and 18. Grounded Theory-based qualitative analyses suggested that the opportunity to discuss the social context of their lives in addition to HIV/AIDS, including continued stigma and fear related to disclosure, are also essential components of a prevention strategy for WLH/A.