HIV- Risk Reduction Behavioral Intervention for Commercial Sex Workers in Yerevan Armenia

Emory University

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 2

Conditions: HIV Prevention; HIV Infections

Treatments: Behavioral: HIV risk reduction intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00886561

0126-2005

ARX1-2719-YE-06 (Other Identifier)

Details and patient eligibility

About

This pilot study will test the efficacy of a behavioral intervention in reducing HIV related risk behaviors among sex workers in Yerevan, Armenia.

Full description

The purpose of this pilot study is to evaluate the efficacy of an intervention to reduce sexual risk behaviors and enhance HIV-preventive behaviors among female sex workers (FSWs) in Yerevan, Armenia. The study design is a randomized controlled trial of 120 FSWs aged 18 and over recruited through Hope and Help NGO. Participants will complete an interviewer administered questionnaire collected at baseline, 3- and 6-month follow-up.

Subsequently, participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention condition or a wait-list control. Those randomized to the intervention condition will receive a 2-hour one-on-one intervention session emphasizing HIV knowledge, self-efficacy, and condom use behaviors. They will also receive a 10-15 minute booster session at 3-month follow-up. The comparison condition is wait-listed, but have the choice of participating in the intervention program upon completion of the study.

The main outcome measure includes consistent condom use, defined as condom use during every episode of vaginal intercourse with clients. Other outcome measures are condom application by FSW and HIV- preventive behaviors such as condom use self-efficacy, knowledge of HIV transmission dynamics,perceived barriers to condom use and condom use errors.

Results from this pilot study are expected to inform a larger trial to be implemented with FSWs in Armenia, in an effort to devise gender and culturally relevant intervention programs to prevent HIV transmission in this vulnerable population.

Enrollment: 120 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 18 years and older
• traded sex for money in the past 7 days
• cognitive ability to participate in assessment and intervention

Exclusion criteria

• younger than 18 years of age
• did not trade sex for money in the past 7 days
• cognitively unable to participate in assessment and intervention

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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120 participants in 2 patient groups

HIV risk reduction intervention

Experimental group

Description:

Behavioral intervention designed to reduce HIV risk behaviors and enhance enhance HIV-preventive behaviors among female sex workers (FSWs) in Armenia

Treatment:

Behavioral: HIV risk reduction intervention

Wait list control

Active Comparator group

Description:

Will receive behavioral intervention after completion of study upon request.

Treatment:

Behavioral: HIV risk reduction intervention