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Efficacy of a Single-Session HIV Prevention Intervention for Black Women: A Group Randomized Controlled Trial

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Abstract

SisterLove Inc., a community-based organization (CBO) in Atlanta, Georgia, evaluated the efficacy of its highly interactive, single-session HIV prevention intervention for black women, the Healthy Love Workshop (HLW). HLW is delivered to pre-existing groups of women (e.g., friends, sororities) in settings of their choosing. Eligible groups of women were randomly assigned to receive the intervention (15 groups; 161 women) or a comparison workshop (15 groups; 152 women). Behavioral assessments were conducted at baseline and at 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Among sexually active women at the 3-month follow-up, HLW participants were more likely than comparison participants to report having used condoms during vaginal sex with any male partner or with a primary male partner, and to have used condoms at last vaginal, anal or oral sex with any male partner. At the 6-month follow-up, HLW participants were more likely to report condom use at last vaginal, anal or oral sex with any male partner, and having an HIV test and receiving their test results. The study findings suggest that a single-session intervention delivered to pre-existing groups of black women is an efficacious approach to HIV prevention. This study also demonstrates that a CBO can develop and deliver a culturally appropriate, effective HIV prevention intervention for the population it serves and, with adequate resources and technical assistance, rigorously evaluate its intervention.

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Acknowledgments

Funding for this evaluation study was provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to SisterLove, Inc. under cooperative agreement U65/CCU424514. The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of the SisterLove Evaluation Team who helped make this study possible: Angela Clements, Sarita Davis, Kozetta Harris, Kelly M. Jackson, L. Nyrobi Moss, Kerriann Peart, Kiyana Scott, Aisha Tucker-Brown, and the SisterLove Volunteers. The authors also acknowledge support of the SisterLove staff and Board of Directors, and, most importantly, the women who participated in this study. The authors would also like to thank the following CDC staff for their contributions to this study: James W. Carey, Cynthia M. Lyles, Duane Moody, the late Ida M. Onorato, David Purcell, Sima Rama, Sekhar R. Thadiparthi, and Richard J. Wolitski. Disclaimer The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. SisterLove Inc., P.O. Box 10558, Atlanta, GA, 30310, USA

    Dázon Dixon Diallo, Paulyne M. Ngalame & Lisa Diane White

  2. Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, CDC, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Trent Wade Moore, Jeffrey H. Herbst & Thomas M. Painter

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  1. Dázon Dixon Diallo
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Correspondence to Dázon Dixon Diallo.

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Diallo, D.D., Moore, T.W., Ngalame, P.M. et al. Efficacy of a Single-Session HIV Prevention Intervention for Black Women: A Group Randomized Controlled Trial. AIDS Behav 14, 518–529 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-010-9672-5

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