Ourselves, our bodies, our realities: An HIV prevention intervention for women with severe mental illness

This paper describes a 10-session behavioral intervention introducing femal e-initiated methods of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention to red uce vulnerability to HIV infection for women with severe mental illness. In a pilot test of the intervention, 35 women were randomly placed in the exp erimental intervention group or an HIV education control. Subjective norms, intentions to use, perceived efficacy, and attitudes toward the male condo m, female condom, and a microbicide were assessed at baseline, postinterven tion, and 6-week follow-up. The participants in the treatment group reporte d a significantly more positive attitude toward the use of female condoms ( t = -2.12, P < .05) at 6-week follow-up. Providing women with severe mental illness with choices of protective methods and the knowledge and skills to ensure proper use are among the many crucial ingredients in prevention of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.