Published in:
01-06-2010 | Original Paper
A Randomized Controlled Trial of an HIV Prevention Intervention for Street-Based Female Sex Workers in Yerevan, Armenia: Preliminary Evidence of Efficacy
Authors:
Karine Markosyan, Delia L. Lang, Laura F. Salazar, Ralph J. DiClemente, James W. Hardin, Nelli Darbinyan, Jesse B. Joseph, Marietta Khurshudyan
Published in:
AIDS and Behavior
|
Issue 3/2010
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Abstract
This study evaluated the efficacy of an HIV intervention among female sex workers (FSWs) randomized to an intervention or wait-list control. FSWs (N = 120) completed baseline, 3- and 6-month assessments. A health educator implemented 2-hour intervention emphasized gender-empowerment, self-efficacy to persuade clients to use condoms, condom application skills, and eroticizing safer sex. Over the 6-month follow-up, FSWs in the intervention reported more consistent condom use with clients (P = .004) and were more likely to apply condoms on clients (P = .0001). Intervention effects were observed for other psychosocial mediators of safer sex. Brief, gender and culturally congruent interventions can enhance HIV-preventive behaviors among FSWs.