Abstract
Method
This pilot study was conducted at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
from February 2008 to January 2009. Thirty sexually active high-risk couples were drawn from a convenience sample of PGIMER
patients attending infectious disease and family planning clinics. Couples participated in 1 month of three weekly gender-concordant
behavioral intervention groups and were individually administered assessments preintervention and post-intervention. The intervention
was tailored to the Northern Indian context and addressed sexual barrier use, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/sexually
transmitted infection transmission, and cognitive behavioral skill building focusing on sexual negotiation and communication.
from February 2008 to January 2009. Thirty sexually active high-risk couples were drawn from a convenience sample of PGIMER
patients attending infectious disease and family planning clinics. Couples participated in 1 month of three weekly gender-concordant
behavioral intervention groups and were individually administered assessments preintervention and post-intervention. The intervention
was tailored to the Northern Indian context and addressed sexual barrier use, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/sexually
transmitted infection transmission, and cognitive behavioral skill building focusing on sexual negotiation and communication.
Results
The participants had a mean age of 32 years (men) and 29 years (women), and the majority had at least 10 years of education.
At baseline, the majority reported inconsistent condom use (<100 % of the time; 64 % of women, 59 % of men). Post-intervention,
nearly all participants reported consistent condom use (100 % of the time; 100 % of men, 97 % of women). Participants also
reported decreased verbal aggression, increased self-efficacy, and increased HIV-related knowledge, and women increased their
use of positive coping tactics.
At baseline, the majority reported inconsistent condom use (<100 % of the time; 64 % of women, 59 % of men). Post-intervention,
nearly all participants reported consistent condom use (100 % of the time; 100 % of men, 97 % of women). Participants also
reported decreased verbal aggression, increased self-efficacy, and increased HIV-related knowledge, and women increased their
use of positive coping tactics.
Conclusions
The results highlight the potential to successfully utilize a group intervention to discuss sensitive issues such as sexual
risk behavior among both men and women. Strategies to improve condom use and communication without increasing intimate partner
violence in high-risk couples may be an important adjunct to preventing the development of a generalized epidemic in India.
risk behavior among both men and women. Strategies to improve condom use and communication without increasing intimate partner
violence in high-risk couples may be an important adjunct to preventing the development of a generalized epidemic in India.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s12529-012-9235-4
- Authors
- Deborah Jones, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Rashmi Bagga, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
- Ritu Nehra, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
- Deepika, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
- Sunil Sethi, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
- Kamini Walia, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India
- Mahendra Kumar, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Olga Villar-Loubet, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Maria Lopez, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Stephen M. Weiss, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Journal International Journal of Behavioral Medicine
- Online ISSN 1532-7558
- Print ISSN 1070-5503