Jenni Smit , Susie Hoffman, Zonke Mabude, Mags Beksinska,

1. EFFICACY OF A RANDOMIZED INTERVENTION TRIAL PROMOTING FEMALE CONDOM USE AMONG FEMALE SOUTH AFRICAN TERTIARY STUDENTS Poster Number WEPDC0201 Jenni Smit, Susie Hoffman, Zonke Mabude, Mags Beksinska, Zena Stein, Claudia Ngoloyi, Elizabeth A. Kelvin, Tsitsi B. Masvawure, Jacqui Pienaar, Cheng-Shiun Leu, Theresa M. Exner, Joanne E. Mantell Washington DC, 25 July 2012

2. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS • We compared the efficacy of an enhanced 2-session cognitive-behavioral intervention against a one-session ‘basic’ intervention to promote FC use among women students at a South African tertiary institution 1 session intervention: HIV/STI transmission & safer sex, HIV & pregnancy vulnerability, addressing risks and problems encountered, FC insertion/removal/disposal demonstration, FC/MC comparison 2-session intervention: same as 1 session + skills-building re: partner negotiation overcoming resistance to condom use, practice in using FCs, and a focus on goal setting • 296 women students, reporting unprotected sex in last 2 months, enrolled and randomly assigned to the 2-session (n=147) or 1-session (n=149) intervention. • Baseline, and post-intervention follow-up assessments at 2.5 & 5 months • We evaluated if there were differences between the 1- and 2-session groups in change from baseline to follow-up in regard to # of unprotected sex acts and # of FCs used.

3. MAIN FINDINGS • Preliminary findings suggest both interventions decreased unprotected sex (and increased the number of FCs used – see poster), but nodifferences found between the 2 groups in the amount of change from baseline to either FU1 or FU2. • The shorter, single-session group-based intervention, which could be delivered in a clinic waiting room, holds promise in resource-constrained settings. • Further analyses underway to understand the “no differences” between intervention conditions.

4. Acknowledgements • This research was supported by a NICHD grant (R01-HD046351; Joanne E. Mantell, Ph.D., PI; Jennifer A. Smit, Ph.D., South African Site PI and a NIMH center grant (P30-MH43520; PI: Anke A. Ehrhardt, Ph.D.). Dr. Masvawure is supported by a NIMH training grant (T32-MH19139 Behavioral Sciences Research in HIV Infection; PI: Theo Sandfort, Ph.D.). • We appreciate the contributions of the students who gave their valuable time to participate in this research. • We appreciate the valuable contribution made by the project Community Advisory Board and the staff of the tertiary institution. • We acknowledge our institutions for their support: MatCH [Maternal, Adolescent and Child Health], University of the Witwatersrand, Durban, South Africa; HIV Center for Clinical & Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; CUNY School of Public Health at Hunter College, New York, NY, USA

5. References • Vijayakumar G, Mabude Z, Smit J, Beksinska M, Lurie M. A Review of the impact of the female condom on proportion of protected sex acts and STI incidence. International Journal of STD and AIDS, 2006; 17(10):652-659. • FHC Health Systems, Inc – Strategy and SWOT Report. Market Publishers. 29 March 2012. Report ID: F82FFA0A7D3EN. • Beksinska M, Smit J, Mantell J.  Progress and challenges in male and female condom use in South Africa.  Sexual Health, 2012; 9(1):51-58. • HEAIDS, 2010. HIV/AIDS prevention good practice- Strategies for public higher education institutions (HEIs) in South Africa. Pretoria: Higher Education South Africa.