What We Can Do: Putting Research to Work to Prevent HIV/AIDS

Research into human behavior has proven that culturally relevant interventions based on behavioral theories can work to change the behaviors, attitudes and beliefs not only of individuals but also of communities and whole societies. Behavioral research in the field of HIV/AIDS is based on evidence that strategies addressing behavior and policies effectively reduce the spread of AIDS. The Center for Mental Health Research on AIDS at the National Institute of Mental Health supports research into HIV/AIDS prevention. They can be contacted at www.nimh.nih.gov/oa/index.htm. This center focuses on a broad range of interventions addressing the following groups:

Individuals: Interventions designed to influence individuals often address a person's knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about a disease, including a disease's severity and his or her susceptibility to that disease.
Small Groups: Interventions designed to influence small groups may focus on group behaviors, since HIV risk behaviors often occur in group settings.
Organizations: Interventions designed to influence organizations focus on the idea that a person's immediate environment, such as school, prison or the workplace, largely influences his or her decision making.
Communities: Interventions designed to influence communities attempt to change existing social norms by encouraging the community to accept and expect healthy behaviors and attitudes.
Societal/Policy: Interventions designed to influence societies focus on promoting wellness in the society by implementing effective public policies.

The following chart details interventions that researchers have found to be effective in changing behaviors among various populations:

Level of Intervention	Examples of Intended Outcomes	Strategies/Methods	Populations with Whom the Interventions Were Effective
Individual	Increase knowledge regarding vulnerability to AIDS Gain more positive attitudes towards safer sex, condom use, and abstinence Develop stress and coping skills Increase abstinence from sexual activity and consistent condom use Decrease the number of partners and the number of sexual encounters Decrease needle risk behavior	Question and answer sessions Distribution of information brochures Peer-led small and large group discussions Demonstrations of correct condom use; HIV testing and risk-reduction counseling Increased access to healthcare	Heterosexual Adolescents; Heterosexual African American Adolescents; Runaway Adolescents; Heterosexual African American Women; Heterosexual Mentally Ill Adults; Homeless Adults; Heterosexual Injection Drug Users
Small Group	Overcome social and cultural pressures to engage in risk behaviors Increase acceptance of condom use and consistent condom use Increase negotiation, management and communication skills Address gender roles Encourage self-pride, personal responsibility and the importance of protecting loved ones	Interactive group sessions and role playing HIV testing of couples Discussions about the importance of condoms in primary and non-primary relationships	Heterosexual Hispanic Adults Heterosexual Couples
Organization	Create an environment conducive to reducing HIV-risk behavior and needle sharing Increase employee knowledge and awareness about HIV/AIDS and HIV-related issues; Foster a respectful, non-discriminatory workplace	Condom distribution; Compulsory testing; Methadone treatment Needle exchange programs Seminar presentations on HIV/AIDS	Prison populations Employees in the workplace
Community	Address and change community norms Increase condom use across the population Address perceptions of risk behaviors and safer sexual activity Mobilize and empower community members	Publicity and media campaigns Widespread social marketing of condoms Distribution of educational materials in community; Risk-reduction workshops; Community social events	San Francisco Zaire and Switzerland Young men who have sex with men
Societal/Policy	Attain uncontaminated supply of blood Decrease needle sharing Create more educational and economic opportunities to reduce the disparity between genders and social classes	Create policy to screen blood supplies Change state law to allow sales of non-prescription syringes in pharmacies Provide loans to women to establish small businesses	United States Connecticut India