Abstract
Worldwide, military personnel have been recognized as a population at elevated risk for sexually transmitted infections and
HIV. However, few evidence based behavioral interventions for the prevention of HIV and STIs have been rigorously evaluated
in military personnel. We adapted the Popular Opinion Leaders (POL) intervention and piloted the adapted program with the
Barbados Defence Force at one military base in Barbados. Popular Opinion Leaders were selected and trained to focus conversations
on condom use. Behavioral questionnaires were administered using audio computer-assisted self interview at baseline (n = 256) and 6-month follow-up (n = 303). Mid-point focus groups were conducted with a sample of 15 POLs at a 3 month mid-point assessment. Quantitative data
showed moderate increases in condom use at 6-months, and significant uptake of condom use during oral-genital contact in female
personnel. A subgroup analysis suggests that this change was partially mediated by post-intervention changes in injunctive
norms surrounding condom use in women. Focus groups revealed that POLs were heavily focusing on condom demonstrations, condom
provision within social networks, speaking with coworkers about pleasure associated with condom use, and that the most common
venues for conversations included those where alcohol was consumed. During the intervention, POLs dispersed from the intervention
site as a result of normal personnel movement across bases, resulting in our having to use a pre and post intervention design
across the population. It is likely that larger effect sizes would be observed in efforts that account for the natural dispersion
of personnel across bases.
HIV. However, few evidence based behavioral interventions for the prevention of HIV and STIs have been rigorously evaluated
in military personnel. We adapted the Popular Opinion Leaders (POL) intervention and piloted the adapted program with the
Barbados Defence Force at one military base in Barbados. Popular Opinion Leaders were selected and trained to focus conversations
on condom use. Behavioral questionnaires were administered using audio computer-assisted self interview at baseline (n = 256) and 6-month follow-up (n = 303). Mid-point focus groups were conducted with a sample of 15 POLs at a 3 month mid-point assessment. Quantitative data
showed moderate increases in condom use at 6-months, and significant uptake of condom use during oral-genital contact in female
personnel. A subgroup analysis suggests that this change was partially mediated by post-intervention changes in injunctive
norms surrounding condom use in women. Focus groups revealed that POLs were heavily focusing on condom demonstrations, condom
provision within social networks, speaking with coworkers about pleasure associated with condom use, and that the most common
venues for conversations included those where alcohol was consumed. During the intervention, POLs dispersed from the intervention
site as a result of normal personnel movement across bases, resulting in our having to use a pre and post intervention design
across the population. It is likely that larger effect sizes would be observed in efforts that account for the natural dispersion
of personnel across bases.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-8
- DOI 10.1007/s10900-012-9577-5
- Authors
- Michael P. Anastario, New York University, New York, NY, USA
- Julia Dabreo, The Barbados Defence Force, St. Ann’s Fort, Barbados
- Jackie Morris, The Barbados Defence Force, St. Ann’s Fort, Barbados
- Rachel Hallum-Montes, Cicatelli Associates Inc., New York, NY, USA
- Gricel Arredondo, Cicatelli Associates Inc., New York, NY, USA
- Alisha Creel, Survey and Evaluation Research Center, ICF International, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Lisa Cowan, The Department of Defense HIV/AIDS Prevention Program, San Diego, CA, USA
- Helen Chun, The Department of Defense HIV/AIDS Prevention Program, San Diego, CA, USA
- Journal Journal of Community Health
- Online ISSN 1573-3610
- Print ISSN 0094-5145