THE EFFICACY OF BRIEF GROUP-COUNSELING IN HIV RISK REDUCTION AMONG HOMOSEXUAL ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER MEN

Objectives: The incidence of AIDS is increasing at a higher rate among homosexual Asian and Pacific Islanders (API) than white homosexual me n in the United States. The number of homosexual API men engaging in u nsafe sex is increasing at an alarming rate. HIV risk reduction is urg ently needed in this population.Subjects and methods: We developed and evaluated culturally appropriate brief group counseling with 329 self -identified homosexual API recruited in San Francisco between 1992 and 1994. Participants were randomized into a single, 3-h skills training group or a wait-list control group. The intervention consisted of fou r components: (1) development of positive self-identity and social sup port, (2) safer sex education, (3) eroticizing safer sex, and (4) nego tiating safer sex. Data were collected at baseline and 3 months after the intervention. Results: Significant reductions in number of sexual partners were observed among all treatment subjects, regardless of eth nicity (P=0.003). Treatment decreased the number of partners reported at 3-month follow-up by 46% [95% confidence interval (CI), 28-77]. Chi nese and Filipino men further benefited from the intervention: treatme nt subjects from these two ethnic groups reduced unprotected anal inte rcourse at follow-up by more than half when compared to their counterp arts (odds ratio = 0.41; 95% CI, 0.19-0.89; P=0.024). Conclusions: We demonstrated the efficacy of brief group counseling in reducing HIV ri sk among homosexual API. Cities with significant API populations shoul d adopt culturally tailored skills training as part of HIV prevention strategies for this group of homosexual men.