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Are preventive HIV interventions at airports effective?
T M Gehring1, J Widmer, D Kleiber
1University of Zurich, Institute for Social and Preventive Medicine, Division of Health Promotion and Evaluation, Sumatrastrasse 30, CH-8006 Zurich, Switzerland.
Journal of Travel Medicine
|January 7, 1999
Summary
Travel health interventions increase knowledge about HIV risks but do not significantly change sexual behavior or condom use among international tourists. Future efforts should target specific risk groups for greater impact.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Travel Medicine
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Limited empirical data exist on the effectiveness of preventive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) interventions on international tourists' sexual behavior.
- Cross-sectional study employing a 2x3x2 design to assess intervention impact.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of a safer sex intervention on the intended and actual sexual behaviors of international travelers.
- To assess traveler knowledge and attitudes regarding HIV risks and safer sex practices.
Main Methods:
- Survey of 3100 departing and arriving passengers at Zurich Airport.
- Intervention group (41%) received safer sex information; control group (59%) did not.
- Questionnaires assessed planned and actual sexual behavior, including condom use.
Main Results:
- Intervention group showed increased knowledge of heterosexually transmitted HIV risks (p < .01).
- More intervention participants considered casual sex abroad (23% vs. 16%, p < .01).
- No significant differences in planned or actual condom use between groups; actual condom use was low (50% among those reporting casual sex).
Conclusions:
- Safer sex interventions are appreciated and improve knowledge but do not significantly modify sexual behavior in travelers.
- Future interventions need to be more targeted to specific risk groups to achieve greater behavioral impact.