Reducing HIV: Safer Sex Skill Building in Pregnant Drug Abusing Women

"Safer Sex Skills Building" in Pregnant Women: Dace Svikis, (Psychology, Ob-Gyn, Psychiatry)
PI, Diane Langhorst (Social Work) and Nichole Karjane, (OB-Gyn) Co-Investigators). This
study will focus on increasing Safer Sex Skills development among pregnant women at high
risk for HIV infection. The "Safer Sex Skill Building" (SSB) program developed by El Bassel
and Schilling (1991, 1992), has demonstrated efficacy in national studies in reducing sexual
risk for HIV and other STD transmission. This manual-driven, gender-specific intervention
has proven effective in reducing sexual risk behaviors in both methadone maintenance and
outpatient drug-free patients. To date, however, the intervention has not been tested with
pregnant drug abusing women who may actually be at increased risk if they stop using condoms
or continue drug use during pregnancy. This study will examine SSB, a targeted behavioral
HIV prevention and risk reduction intervention in two samples of pregnant drug abusing
women. Using a 2x2 design, a randomized clinical trial will compare the five-session SSB
group intervention to a one-session standard group HIV Education intervention (SE). Study
findings will provide benchmark data on the efficacy of SSB for HIV and STD prevention in a
diverse sample of pregnant drug abusing women.

Inclusion Criteria:

- 18 years of age and older, pregnant

- At prenatal care (PCC) site: screen positive for on T-ACE and TWEAK and/or drug CAGE,
report drinking 3 or more drinks on at least one occasion and/or using an illicit
drug at least once in the 30 days prior to pregnancy awareness, and report at least
one incident of unprotected penetrative (vaginal or anal) intercourse with a male
partner within the six months prior to baseline assessment.

- At community treatment (RBHA) site, inclusion criteria are the same except
post-partum women (i.e., those who gave birth to a child 2 years of age or less) will
also be eligible for study enrollment.

Exclusion Criteria:

Both sites:

- Unable to provide informed consent due to cognitive impairment, psychiatric
instability, or language barriers