Asian heterosexual women in the U.S. have experienced relative rising HIV
case rates, but there remain few studies and no evidence-based interventions
that focus on this population. This study was a randomized controlled trial
of a gender and ethnically tailored HIV prevention intervention for monolingual
Chinese-speaking women who work as masseuses in Los Angeles.
The intervention was two group-based sessions focused on HIV risk and
prevention knowledge and condom skills. The control condition was a
single-session HIV review. Participants were recruited using newspaper advertisements
and referrals from agencies and massage schools. Two hundred
women were randomly assigned to one of each condition. Retention in both
conditions exceeded 90% at 3-month follow-up. Participants in both conditions
demonstrated increases in knowledge on how to use male and female
condoms. These effects were sustained at 3-month follow-up. The results
highlight the possible efficacy of a one-workshop intervention in increasing
HIV knowledge, but that more intensive participant interaction may be
needed for improved condom use knowledge.