Rapid vs. standard HIV testing in bathhouses: what is gained and lost?

Previous research demonstrates that standard voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) in bathhouses is feasible, and is an effective means for identifying new HIV cases and producing short term change in risk and precautionary behaviors. Less is known about whether the promise shown in standard VCT will be maintained as rapid testing is disseminated into outreach settings such as bathhouses. This study aimed to compare the risk and demographic profiles of men presenting for rapid vs.

The efficacy of female condom skills training in HIV risk reduction among women: a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: We evaluated the efficacy of skills training designed to increase female condom use among women.

Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial of 409 women, recruited from family planning clinics in northern California, who were randomly assigned to the experimental 4-session female condom skills training intervention or the comparison 4-session women's general health promotion intervention. Participants received condom use instructions at baseline and male and female condoms during the study.

Bringing it home: design and implementation of an HIV/STD intervention for women visiting incarcerated men.

Incarceration has been identified as a key variable to be addressed in halting the HIV epidemic among African Americans. Our research team has been conducting and evaluating HIV prevention interventions for prisoners and their families since the early 1990s, including interventions specifically tailored to the needs of women with incarcerated partners. This article describes the development and implementation of a multicomponent HIV prevention intervention for women with incarcerated partners, and presents qualitative data from women who participated as peer educators in this intervention.

Building stakeholder partnerships for an on-site HIV testing programme.

Because of the large number of individuals at risk for HIV infection who visit gay saunas and sex clubs, these venues are useful settings in which to offer HIV outreach programmes for voluntary counselling and testing (VCT). Nevertheless, establishing a successful VCT programme in such a setting can be a daunting challenge, in large part because there are many barriers to managing the various components likely to be involved. Using qualitative data from a process evaluation of a new VCT programme at a gay sauna in California, USA, we describe how the various stakeholders overcame barriers of disparate interests and responsibilities to work together to successfully facilitate a regular and frequent on-site VCT programme that was fully utilized by patrons.

Making sure research is used: community-generated recommendations for disseminating research.

Academic research, no matter how innovative, will never make a difference in the lives of people unless it is disseminated in an appropriate and timely manner to providers and organizations serving the public. Yet many researchers are not trained, rewarded, or supported to disseminate research findings. The Community Advisory Board (CAB) of the University of California, San Francisco, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies (CAPS) developed a set guidelines to support researchers' intentions to disseminate their findings through nontraditional venues.