Effectiveness of a brief condom promotion program in reducing risky sexual behaviours among African American men

The prevention of human immunodeficiency virus/sexually transmitted diseases remains a significant global public health issue, especially among vulnerable populations.

To promote condom use skills among young urban African American men.

As a pilot study, a randomized controlled trial was conducted among 136 African American men aged 18-24 years recruited from urban communities in Chicago. Participants assigned to the intervention received 45-60 minutes of a one-on-one single-session condom promotion program delivered by trained facilitators while those assigned to the attention-matched comparison condition received a general health program. Longitudinally, 115 (85%) and 120 (88%) participants completed the 3-month and 6-month follow-up surveys, respectively.

Overall, the study results indicate that positive effects were observed from baseline to 6-month follow-up for intervention participants relative to comparison condition participants for prior condom use (1.23-1.82 versus 1.34-0.97); condom use intention (2.51-3.19 versus 2.69-2.21); perceived condom availability (3.44-3.72 versus 3.42-3.38); positive reasons to use condoms (2.82-3.08 versus 2.95-1.99); favourable condom use attitude (2.41-2.69 versus 2.49-1.95); barriers to condom use (1.33-0.79 versus 1.25-1.85); and negative condom use attitude (1.45-0.66 versus 1.33-1.39), respectively.

We conclude that a brief single-session condom promotion program is effective in preventing high-risk sexual behaviours among urban young adult African American men.