A randomized controlled trial testing an HIV prevention intervention for Latino youth

OBJECTIVE: To test the efficacy of a prevention intervention to reduce sexual risk behavior among Latino adolescents. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial from April 2000 through March 2003, with data collection before and after intervention and at 3, 6, and 12 months. SETTING: Northeast Philadelphia schools. PARTICIPANTS: Latinos aged 13 through 18 years (249 males and 304 females); 81.6% retained at 12-month follow-up. INTERVENTIONS: The HIV and health-promotion control interventions consisted of six 50-minute modules delivered by adult facilitators to small, mixed-gender groups in English or Spanish.Main Outcome Measure Self-reported sexual behavior. RESULTS: Analyses using generalized estimation equations over the follow-up period revealed that adolescents in the HIV intervention were less likely to report sexual intercourse (odds ratio, 0.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.46-0.96), multiple partners (odds ratio, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.31-0.90), and days of unprotected intercourse (relative risk, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.26-0.84) and more likely to report using condoms consistently (odds ratio, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.24-2.93). Baseline sexual experience and language use moderated intervention efficacy. Adolescents assigned to the HIV intervention who were sexually inexperienced at baseline reported fewer days of unprotected sex (relative risk, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.08-0.63); Spanish speakers were more likely to have used a condom at last intercourse (odds ratio, 4.73; 95% CI, 1.72-12.97) and had a greater proportion of protected sex (mean difference, 0.35; P<.01) compared with similar adolescents in the health-promotion intervention. CONCLUSION: Results provide evidence for the efficacy of HIV intervention in decreasing sexual activity and increasing condom use among Latino adolescents.