NCJ Number
216730
Journal
American Journal of Public Health Volume: 96 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2006 Pages: 1854-1861
Date Published
October 2006
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This study compared the effectiveness of an enhanced multisession intervention (Project START) with a single-session intervention for reducing sexual risk behaviors among young men released from prison.
Abstract
Results indicate that a multisession community reentry intervention can significantly reduce sexual risk behaviors for young men leaving prison. Evaluation results revealed that the men in the multisession intervention had significantly lower rates of unprotected intercourse at the 24-month follow-up than men in the single-session intervention. This difference between the two intervention groups remained after controlling for the amount of time since the last intervention contact. Prerelease data for the sample revealed high levels of unprotected sex and substance abuse, which represent major public health concerns. Enhanced interventions with men released from prison should focus on addressing sexual risk behaviors within the context of competing threats to health and well-being. Participants were 522 young (aged 18 to 29 years) male prisoners who were recruited in 2001 and 2002 from 8 State prisons in 4 States: California, Mississippi, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin. Participants were assigned to the multisession or the single-session intervention based on their month of recruitment or their month of anticipated release. Participants were assessed before release and 1 week, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks following release. Assessments were performed using the Questionnaire Development System audio computer-assisted self-interview technology and focused on life circumstances, utilization of community resources and prevention services, substance use, sexual practices, HIV and STI beliefs, depression and coping, and demographic characteristics. Logistic regression models were used to assess intervention outcomes. Tables, references