Testing the effectiveness of two psychosocial interventions - ACCENT and Didactic - to prevent HIV/AIDS behavioral risk factors in Mozambican women: a randomized controlled study

AIDS Care. 2024 Jan;36(1):122-129. doi: 10.1080/13548506.2023.2229236. Epub 2023 Jul 25.

Abstract

In Mozambique, women are the most affected by HIV/AIDS and heterosexual encounters remain the main route for HIV/AIDS. Condom use is the most effective method of HIV/AIDS prevention, and the intention to use and buy/get condoms has a significant role in safe sex behavior. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of two psychosocial interventions - the Didactic and ACCENT Interventions - to prevent HIV/AIDS among Mozambican Women. Participants were Mozambican women (n = 150), users of the gynecology clinic of the Central Hospital of Beira. The study design was a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with assignment to three groups: Didactic intervention, ACCENT intervention, and Control group. Measures were from an adaption of the Women's Health Questionnaire, which includes questions about sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral variables related to HIV prevention/risk. There was a significant group effect on condom use and safer sex preparatory behaviors, F(2, 146) = 6.45, p = .002, with Bonferroni post-hoc tests showing differences between the ACCENT vs. Control groups and ACCENT vs. Didactic groups (all p = .022). There were no statistically significant time effects on both condom use and safer sex preparatory behaviors. Results are promising for HIV/AIDS prevention in Mozambican women at sexual risk, but replication is needed for generalizability of findings.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS prevention; Mozambican women; condom use; current safer sex practices; psychosocial intervention.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome* / prevention & control
  • Condoms
  • Female
  • HIV Infections* / prevention & control
  • HIV Infections* / psychology
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Humans
  • Mozambique
  • Psychosocial Intervention
  • Risk Factors
  • Sexual Behavior / psychology