Outcomes of a randomized community-level HIV prevention intervention for women living in 18 low-income housing developments

Objectives. Women in impoverished inner-city neighborhoods are at high risk for contracting HIV. A randomized, multisite community-level HIV preventio n trial was undertaken with women living in IS low-income housing developme nts in 5 US cities. Methods. Baseline and 12-month follow-up population risk characteristics we re assessed by surveying 690 women at both time points. In the 9 interventi on condition housing developments, a community-level intervention was under taken that included HIV risk reduction workshops and community HIV preventi on events implemented by women who were popular opinion leaders among their peers. Results. The proportion of women in the intervention developments who had a ny unprotected intercourse in the past 2 months declined from 50% to 37.6%, and the percentage of women's acts of intercourse protected by condoms inc reased fi om 30.2% to 47.2%. Among women exposed to intervention activities , the mean frequency of unprotected acts of intercourse in the past 2 month s tended to be lower at follow-up (mean = 4.0) than at baseline (mean = 6.0 ). These changes were corroborated by changes in other risk indicators. Conclusions. Community-level interventions that involve and engage women in neighborhood-based HIV prevention activities can bring about reductions in high-risk sexual behaviors.