A Web-Based HIV/STD Prevention Intervention for Divorced or Separated Older Women.
Gerontologist
; 60(6): 1159-1168, 2020 08 14.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-31403668
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are increasing among older adults concomitant with a rise in divorce after the age of 50 years. The objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a web-based human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/STD risk reduction intervention for divorced and separated women aged more than 50 years. RESEARCH DESIGN ANDMETHODS:
Two hundred nineteen divorced or separated women, aged 50 years and older, participated in 60-day randomized pre-post control group study. Recruitment occurred via health agencies in Boston and Columbia, SC, and Craigslist advertisements placed in Boston, Columbia, Charleston, New York City, Washington DC, Baltimore, Chicago, Atlanta, Orlando, and Miami.RESULTS:
Intervention group reported greater intention to practice safe sex compared to the control group (B = .55, p = .03). Intention to practice safe sex differed by perceived stress (B = .15, p = .005), with no difference between control and intervention groups for those with low levels of stress. For high levels of stress, intervention group reported greater intention to practice safe sex compared to controls. Sexual risk was reduced by 6.10 points (SD 1.10), and self-efficacy for sexual discussion was increased by 2.65 points (SD 0.56) in the intervention group. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS A web-based intervention represents a promising tool to reduce HIV/STD risk among older women. Offering HIV/STD education in the context of other topics of interest to at-risk older women, such as divorce, may solve the problem of at-risk older women not seeking out prevention information due to lack of awareness of their heightened risk.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
/
HIV Infections
/
Internet-Based Intervention
Type of study:
Clinical_trials
Limits:
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
America do norte
Language:
En
Journal:
Gerontologist
Year:
2020
Document type:
Article