Faculty Collaboration Database

Community AIDS/HIV risk reduction: the effects of endorsements by popular people in three cities. Am J Public Health 1992 Nov;82(11):1483-9

Date

11/01/1992

Pubmed ID

1443297

Pubmed Central ID

PMC1694607

DOI

10.2105/ajph.82.11.1483

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0026457155 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   335 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: It is critical to extend community-level acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) prevention efforts beyond education alone and to develop models that better encourage behavioral changes. Gay men in small cities are vulnerable to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection due to continued high rates of risk behavior. This research introduced an intervention that trained popular people to serve as behavioral change endorsers to peers sequentially across three different cities.

METHODS: Populationwide surveys were conducted of all men patronizing gay clubs in each city to establish risk behavior base rates. After a small cadre of popular "trendsetters" were identified, they received training in approaches for peer education and then contracted to communicate risk reduction recommendations and endorsements to friends. Surveys were repeated at regular intervals in all cities, with the same intervention introduced in lagged fashion across each community.

RESULTS: Intervention consistently produced systematic reductions in the population's high-risk behavior (unprotected anal intercourse) of 15% to 29% from baseline levels, with the same pattern of effects sequentially replicated in all three cities.

CONCLUSIONS: This constitutes the first controlled, multiple-city test of an HIV prevention model targeting communities. The results support the utility of norm-changing approaches to reduce HIV risk behavior.

Author List

Kelly JA, St Lawrence JS, Stevenson LY, Hauth AC, Kalichman SC, Diaz YE, Brasfield TL, Koob JJ, Morgan MG

Authors

Allan C. Hauth Research Scientist II in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Jeffrey A. Kelly PhD Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
Adult
HIV Infections
Health Education
Homosexuality
Humans
Leadership
Louisiana
Male
Mississippi
Risk Factors
Risk-Taking
Sexual Behavior
Urban Health