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. 2018 Sep 27;13(9):e0204088.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204088. eCollection 2018.

Behaviour change techniques in brief interventions to prevent HIV, STI and unintended pregnancies: A systematic review

Sofia De Vasconcelos  1 , Igor Toskin  1 , Bergen Cooper  2 , Marie Chollier  3   4 , Rob Stephenson  5 , Karel Blondeel  1   6 , Thierry Troussier  3 , James Kiarie  1
Affiliations

Behaviour change techniques in brief interventions to prevent HIV, STI and unintended pregnancies: A systematic review

Sofia De Vasconcelos et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: Behaviour-change interventions have been consistently considered an essential part of comprehensive HIV, STI and unintended pregnancy prevention. In 2015, the World Health Organization reviewed and assessed existing evidence on brief behavioural interventions, leading to the publication of Brief sexuality-related communication: recommendations for a public health approach. This guideline recommends the use of brief behaviour intervention and communication programmes to promote sexual health and to prevent HIV, STIs, and unintended pregnancies in primary health services, particularly sexual and reproductive health services.

Objective: With the purpose of informing the development of a brief behaviour intervention in sexual and reproductive health, we conducted a systematic review of brief intervention to prevent HIV, STI and unintended pregnancies, to identify behaviour change techniques (BCTs) used in health care settings.

Methods: Participants from all ages and genders were included. Brief interventions delivered in ≤ 60 minutes were included. Data was extracted, and interventions were coded following the Behaviour Change Techniques Taxonomy (BCTTv1) guidelines.

Results: Of the 6.687 articles identified, 355 were reviewed and 37 studies were included. In effective interventions, we identified 48 behaviour change techniques (BCTs). A core set of 8 frequently used behaviour change techniques was identified: "Problem solving", "Feedback on behaviour", "Social support (unspecified)", "Instructions on how to perform the behaviour", "Information about health consequences", "Information about social and environmental consequences", "Demonstration of the behaviour" and "Credible source".

Conclusions: The technical content of brief behaviour interventions was identified in a reliable and standardized way providing preliminary indications on potentially effective techniques to achieve behaviour change.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interest exists.

Figures

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Fig 1. Flowchart.
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References

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    1. Toskin I, Cooper B, Troussier T, Klugman B, Kulier R, Chandra-Mouli V, et al. WHO guideline for brief sexuality-related communication: implications for STI/HIV policy and practice. Reproductive health matters. 2015. November 30;23(46):177–84. 10.1016/j.rhm.2015.11.009 - DOI - PubMed

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