Reducing AIDS risk among port workers in Santos, Brazil

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• HIV infection remains a significant global health concern, particularly in occupational settings.
• Port workers are a population at risk due to lifestyle and work conditions.
• Targeted interventions are crucial for controlling HIV transmission in vulnerable groups.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a worksite-based AIDS prevention program.
• To assess the impact on sexual risk behaviors among male port workers in Santos, Brazil.
• To determine the cost-effectiveness of the intervention.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort study design with 226 male port workers.
• A multifaceted intervention was implemented between the second and third data collection waves.
• Data were collected at three time points to track behavioral changes over time.

Main Results:

• No significant decline in heterosexual risk behavior was observed before the intervention (waves 1-2).
• A substantial decrease in sexual risk behavior occurred after the intervention (waves 2-3).
• This reduction was attributed to a decrease in nonprimary partners and increased condom use.

Conclusions:

• Worksite-based AIDS prevention programs can effectively modify sexual risk behaviors.
• The intervention demonstrated a positive impact on HIV prevention strategies.
• The program achieved significant behavior change at a modest financial cost.