A sexual risk and stress reduction intervention designed for HIV-positive bisexual African American men with childhood sexual abuse histories

Abstract

Objectives: HIV transmission risk is high among men who have sex with men and women (MSMW), and it is further heightened by a history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and current traumatic stress or depression. Yet, traumatic stress is rarely addressed in HIV interventions. We tested a stress-focused sexual risk reduction intervention for African American MSMW with CSA histories.

Methods: This randomized controlled trial compared a stress-focused sexual risk reduction intervention with a general health promotion intervention. Sexual risk behaviors, psychological symptoms, stress biomarkers (urinary cortisol and catecholamines), and neopterin (an indicator of HIV progression) were assessed at baseline and at 3- and 6-month follow-ups.

Results: Both interventions decreased and sustained reductions in sexual risk and psychological symptoms. The stress-focused intervention was more efficacious than the general health promotion intervention in decreasing unprotected anal insertive sex and reducing depression symptoms. Despite randomization, baseline group differences in CSA severity, psychological symptoms, and biomarkers were found and linked to subsequent intervention outcomes.

Conclusions: Although interventions designed specifically for HIV-positive African American MSMW can lead to improvements in health outcomes, future research is needed to examine factors that influence intervention effects.

Figures

FIGURE 1—

Participant flow diagram: Enhanced Sexual Health Intervention for Men: Los Angeles County, CA; 2007-2011. Note. ES-HIM = Enhanced Sexual Health Intervention for Men; HP = health promotion intervention. Not receiving any intervention means not having attended at least Session 1.