A gender-specific intervention for at-risk women in the USA

Women are the fastest growing group in the USA to become infected with HIV. Also, the mode of transmission is changing with heterosexual behaviour bei ng the predominant source. As these changes occur, HIV infection becomes mo re common in women who have not typically been considered at high risk. Thi s paper describes an intervention designed to decrease unsafe sexual encoun ters and to focus on a highly meaningful concern in the lives of these wome n: relationships with men. The sessions encouraged making decisions, choice , partner selection, sexual rights, refusal of any unwanted sex, female con trolled methods and other elements of empowerment. An eight-session and a f our-session curriculum were created to assess dose factors as well.