CDC's Community-Based Organization Behavioral Outcomes Project: Perspectives for Researchers, Implementers and
Weston O Williams1,2, Gary Uhl3, Adanze Eke3
1Public Health Analytic Consulting Services, Inc., 917 Craftsman Street, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, USA. weston@phacsinc.com.
AIDS and Behavior
|July 11, 2020
Summary
Evidence-based behavioral interventions (EBIs) effectively reduced HIV risk behaviors in community settings, similar to research studies. These findings demonstrate the real-world success of public health interventions for HIV prevention.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Behavioral Science
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Behavioral interventions are vital for HIV prevention.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has funded evidence-based behavioral interventions (EBIs) since 2004.
- Community-based organizations (CBOs) play a key role in delivering these interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of EBIs implemented by CBOs outside of research settings.
- To assess the impact of EBIs on HIV risk behaviors through the Community-based Organization Behavioral Outcomes Project (CBOP).
Main Methods:
- The CDC funded 25 CBOs to evaluate seven different EBIs between 2006 and 2015.
- Data were collected on HIV risk behaviors before and after intervention.
- Improvements were compared to those seen in controlled research studies.
Main Results:
- Most HIV risk behaviors improved following EBI implementation in CBO settings.
- The observed improvements were comparable to those achieved in traditional research studies.
- CBOP demonstrated successful real-world implementation of EBIs.
Conclusions:
- Behavioral interventions are effective when implemented in real-world community settings.
- Behavioral components remain critical for the success of HIV prevention strategies, even with the rise of biomedical interventions.
- Lessons learned from CBOP can guide future public health interventions for HIV and other health issues.
