Abstract
Over the past decade, research and program efforts have sought to exploit the online presence of people at risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV to develop Internet-based interventions to reduce STI and HIV transmission risk. This study aimed to develop a typology of online STI and HIV interventions to guide implementation in public health practice. Online interventions were identified through web and literature searches and a review of abstracts from STI and HIV prevention conferences. Three categories of interventions were identified: (a) enhancing use of STI and HIV testing, (b) increasing partner notification and treatment, and (c) inducing behavior change to prevent STI and HIV transmission. Many interventions are still in development; little information on their effectiveness and performance exists outside the research setting. Thus, the proper place and priority of online interventions in the spectrum of public health prevention efforts has yet to be determined.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bartholomew, L. K., Parcel, G. S., Kok, G., & Gottlieb, N. H. (2006). Planning health promotion programs: An intervention mapping approach. San Francisco: John Wiley & Sons.
Bolding, G., Davis, M., Sherr, L., Hart, G., & Elford, J. (2004). Use of gay Internet sites and views about online health promotion among men who have sex with men. AIDS Care, 16, 993–1001.
Bowen, A. M., Horvath, K., & Williams, M. L. (2006). A randomized control trial of Internet-delivered HIV prevention targeting rural MSM. Health Education Research, 22, 120–127.
Bull, S. S., Lloyd, L., Rietmeijer, C., & McFarlane, M. (2004). Recruitment and retention of an online sample for an HIV prevention intervention targeting men who have sex with men: The Smart Sex Quest Project. AIDS Care, 16, 931–943.
Campbell, M. K., DeVellis, B. M., Strecher, V. J., Ammerman, A. S., DeVellis, R. F., & Sandler, R. S. (1994). Improving dietary behavior: The effectiveness of tailored messages in primary care settings. American Journal of Public Health, 84, 783–787.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2001). Compendium of HIV prevention interventions with evidence of effectiveness. Atlanta: Author. Retrieved August 31, 2005, from http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/ pubs/hivCompendium/hivcompendium.htm
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2003a). Advancing HIV prevention: New strategies for a changing epidemic—United States, 2003. MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 52, 329–332.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2003b). Internet use and early syphilis infection among men who have sex with men—San Francisco, California, 1999–2003. MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 52, 1229–1232.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2004). Using the Internet for partner notification of sexually transmitted diseases—Los Angeles County, California, 2003. MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 53, 129–131.
Davidovich, U., De Wit, J., & Stroebe, W. (2006). Using the Internet to reduce risk of HIV infection in steady relationships: A randomized controlled trial of a tailored intervention for gay men. In U. Davidovich (Ed.), Liasons dangereuses (pp. 95–122). Amsterdam: Roel & Uitgeefprojecten.
Gaydos, C. A., Dwyer, K., Barnes, M., Rizzo-Price, P. A., Wood, B. J., Flemming, T., et al. (2006). Internetbased screening for Chlamydia trachomatis to reach non-clinic populations with mailed self-administered vaginal swabs. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 33, 451–457.
Kamb, M. L., Fishbein, M., Douglas, J. M., Jr., Rhodes, F., Rogers, J., Bolan, G., et al. (1998). Efficacy of risk-reduction counseling to prevent human immunodeficiency virus and sexually transmitted diseases: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of the American Medical Association, 280, 1161–1167.
Klausner, J. D., Levine, D. K., & Kent, C. K. (2004). Internet-based site-specific interventions for syphilis prevention among gay and bisexual men. AIDS Care, 16, 964–970.
Klausner, J. D., Wolf, W., Fischer-Ponce, L., Zolt, I., & Katz, M. H. (2000). Tracing a syphilis outbreak through cyberspace. Journal of the American Medical Association, 284, 447–449.
Kohn, R., Williams, D., & Klausner, J. (2006, May). Getting STD test results over the Internet: San Francisco, 2005. Presented at the 2006 National STD Prevention Conference, Jacksonville, FL.
Kok, G., Harterink, P., Vriens, P., De Zwart, O., & Hospers, H. (2006). The gay cruise: Developing a theory-and evidence-based Internet HIV-prevention intervention. Sexuality Research and Social Policy: Journal of NSRC, 3(2), 52–67.
Levine, D., Scott, K., Ahrens, K., Kent, C., & Klausner, J. D. (2006, May). inSPOT.org: A unique online partner notification system. Presented at the 2006 National STD Prevention Conference, Jacksonville, FL.
Levine, D. K., Scott, K. C., & Klausner, J. D. (2005). Online syphilis testing—confidential and convenient. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 32, 139–141.
McFarlane, M., Bull, S. S., & Rietmeijer, C. A. (2000). The Internet as a newly emerging risk environment for sexually transmitted diseases. Journal of the American Medical Association, 284, 443–446.
McFarlane, M., Kachur, R., Klausner, J. D., Roland, E., & Cohen, M. (2005). Internet-based health promotion and disease control in the 8 cities: Successes, barriers, and future plans. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 32, S60-S64.
Rhodes, S. D. (2004). Hookups or health promotion? An exploratory study of a chat room-based HIV prevention intervention for men who have sex with men. AIDS Education and Prevention, 16, 315–327.
Rietmeijer, C. A., Bull, S. S., McFarlane, M., Patnaik, J. L., & Douglas, J. M., Jr. (2003). Risks and benefits of the Internet for populations at risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs): Results of an STI clinic survey. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 30, 15–19.
Roland, E. (2006, May). Core competencies for Internet outreach to MSM: Findings from Montrose Clinic’s Project CORE. Presented at the 2006 National STD Prevention Conference, Jacksonville, FL.
Scholes, D., McBride, C. M., Grothaus, L., Civic, D., Ichikawa, L. E., Fish, L. J., et al. (2003). A tailored minimal self-help intervention to promote condom use in young women: Results from a randomized trial. AIDS, 17, 1547–1556.
Skinner, C. S., Strecher, V. J., & Hospers, H. (1994). Physicians’ recommendations for mammography: Do tailored messages make a difference? American Journal of Public Health, 84, 43–49.
Strecher, V. J., Kreuter, M., Den Boer, D. J., Kobrin, S., Hospers, H. J., & Skinner, C. S. (1994). The effects of computer-tailored smoking cessation messages in family practice settings. Journal of Family Practice, 39, 262–270.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rietmeijer, C.A., Shamos, S.J. HIV and sexually transmitted infection prevention online: Current state and future prospects. Sex Res Soc Policy 4, 65–73 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1525/srsp.2007.4.2.65
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/srsp.2007.4.2.65