The effect of gender-specific HIV prevention interventions on heterosexual anal sex among men and women in substance abuse treatment.
Substance abusers are at risk for HIV and other STIs. Heterosexual anal intercourse (HAI) is riskier than vaginal intercourse, and more risky for women than for men. Previous analyses of data from protocols CTN-0018 and CTN-0019 (Reducing HIV/STD Risk Behaviors: A Research Study for Men (0018) and Women (0019) in Drug Abuse Treatment) found that more women and men in substance abuse treatment engaged in HAI than in general population samples. Additionally, more men engaged in HAI than women, and men were more likely to engage in HAI with their casual sex partners than women. Condom use for HAI was infrequent, and younger age, bisexual behavior, being white, and having more sex partners (men) were associated with engaging in HAI.
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the five session CTN gender-specific HIV prevention interventions, “Real Men Are Safe (REMAS)” (CTN-0018) and “Safer Sex Skill Building (SSSB)” for women (CTN-0019), vs. single session information only control, on decreasing heterosexual anal intercourse (HAI) and increasing condom use for HAI. Men and women enrolled in the two protocols who reported heterosexual activity at baseline, attended SSSB/REMAS or the control condition, and completed the 3-month follow-up were included in the analysis. Results of the study found that the percent of men, but not women, engaging in HAI decreased from baseline to 3 month follow-up, with the decrease for men similar for both REMAS and control condition participants. Although condom use for HAI remained infrequent, the percentage of both women and men reporting any use of condoms for HAI increased between baseline and follow-up. Women attending SSSB were more likely to change from no condom use to some condom use than women attending the control intervention. A similar non-significant trend was noticed for men attending REMAS as well.
Related protocols: CTN-0018, CTN-0019