Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2015 Jul;19(7):1178-202.
doi: 10.1007/s10461-014-0893-x.

A Systematic Review of the Effects of Behavioral Counseling on Sexual Risk Behaviors and HIV/STI Prevalence in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Kristyn Zajac  1 , Caitlin E Kennedy, Virginia A Fonner, Kevin S Armstrong, Kevin R O'Reilly, Michael D Sweat
Affiliations

A Systematic Review of the Effects of Behavioral Counseling on Sexual Risk Behaviors and HIV/STI Prevalence in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Kristyn Zajac et al. AIDS Behav. 2015 Jul.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of behavioral counseling interventions in reducing sexual risk behaviors and HIV/STI prevalence in low- and middle-income countries. A systematic review of papers published between 1990 and 2011 was conducted, identifying studies that utilized either a multi-arm or pre-post design and presented post-intervention data. Standardized methods of searching and data abstraction were used, and 30 studies met inclusion criteria. Results are summarized by intervention groups: (a) people living with HIV; (b) people who use drugs and alcohol; (c) serodiscordant couples; (d) key populations for HIV prevention; and (e) people at low to moderate HIV risk. Evidence for the effectiveness of behavioral counseling was mixed, with more rigorously designed studies often showing modest or no effects. Recommendations about the use of behavioral counseling in developing countries are made based on study results and in light of the field's movement towards combination prevention programs.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Behavioral Counseling: Disposition of Study Records
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. UNAIDS. UNAIDS report on the global HIV epidemic: 2010. 2010 Retrieved from: http://www.unaids.org/GlobalReport/
    1. King R. Sexual behavioural change for HIV: Where have theories taken us? UNAIDs. 1999 Retrieved from: http://www.who.int/hiv/strategic/surveillance/en/unaids_99_27.pdf.
    1. Cornman DH, Kiene SM, Christie S, et al. Clinic-based intervention reduces unprotected sexual behavior among HIV-infected patients in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: results of a pilot study. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2008;48:553–60. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Kalichman SC, Simbayi LC, Vermaak R, et al. HIV/AIDS risk reduction counseling for alcohol using sexually transmitted infections clinic patients in Cape Town, South Africa. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2007;44:594–600. - PubMed
    1. Xu F, Kilmarx PH, Supawitkul S, et al. Incidence of HIV-1 infection and effects of clinic-based counseling on HIV preventive behaviors among married women in northern Thailand. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2002;29:284–8. - PubMed

Publication types