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Meta-analyses of HIV prevention interventions targeting improved partner communication: effects on partner communication and condom use frequency outcomes

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Abstract

Behavioral HIV prevention interventions designed to improve safer-sex communication skills with sexual partners may enhance engagement in protective behaviors and reduce HIV/STI risk. The current meta-analyses examined the efficacy of individual-based (i.e., not couples-based) HIV prevention interventions with a partner communication skills building component to increase frequency of: (a) safer-sex communication and (b) condom use with sexual partners among HIV at-risk groups (e.g., heterosexual African American females). Studies were retrieved from online bibliographic databases, a database of effective behavioral HIV prevention interventions, and an existing review of effective interventions. Eight manuscripts (k = 10 intervention vs. control comparisons) met inclusion criteria. Results indicated that compared to control conditions, at post-intervention follow-up, participants who were exposed to individual-based HIV prevention interventions with safer-sex communication skills training components had safer sex discussions with partners more frequently [drandom = 0.35 ± 0.10, p < .001, 95% CI (0.16, 0.55)], and used condoms more frequently [drandom = 0.39 ± 0.07, p < .001, 95% CI (0.25, 0.54)]. Including partner communication skills training in individual-based HIV prevention interventions may increase the frequency of both partner communication and condom use among the at-risk populations represented in the meta-analyses.

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Funding

This study was funded by the National Institutes of Health (R03DA0377860; PI: Jennifer L. Brown).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Cincinnati, 3131 Harvey Ave, Suite 104, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA

    Nicole K. Gause

  2. Addiction Sciences Division, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Jennifer L. Brown

  3. Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Jeffrey Welge

  4. Wright State University, Fairborn, OH, USA

    Nathan Northern

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  1. Nicole K. Gause
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  2. Jennifer L. Brown
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Correspondence to Nicole K. Gause.

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The authors Nicole K. Gause, Jennifer L. Brown, Jeffrey Welge, and Nathan Northern declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants performed by any of the authors. Informed consent was not obtained by any of the authors directly, as these meta-analyses did not collect data directly from participants in any of the studies included.

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Gause, N.K., Brown, J.L., Welge, J. et al. Meta-analyses of HIV prevention interventions targeting improved partner communication: effects on partner communication and condom use frequency outcomes. J Behav Med 41, 423–440 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-018-9916-9

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