Increasing HIV/AIDS Knowledge among Chilean Women: An Example of an Effective, Culturally-Adapted, Nursing Intervention

Tuesday, 14 July 2009: 4:25 PM

Sarah M. Miner, RN, MSN
Mano a Mano HIV Prevention Initiative, School of Nursing, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Macul, Chile
Lilian Ferrer, PhD
Escuela de Enfermeria, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Macul, Chile
Rosina Cianelli, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN
Schol of Nursing and Health Studies, University of Miami; Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Coral Gables, FL
Natalia Villegas, RN, MSN
School of Nursing and Health Studies, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
Nilda (Nena) Peragallo, RN, DrPH, FAAN
Schol of Nursing and Health Studies, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL

Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to identify the principal aspects of Mano a Mano, a successful HIV prevention research project in Chile.

Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to identify and understand changes in HIV related knowledge among female participants in the Mano a Mano prevention initiative.

Purpose: HIV/AIDS prevention is a global public health priority. Despite the feminization and heterosexualization of HIV/AIDS in Chile, there are few programs designed for the prevention needs of Chilean women (CONASIDA, 2005; UNAIDS, 2007). While there are multiple aspects of a program that need to be addressed in order to make HIV prevention effective, knowledge surrounding HIV/AIDS is fundamental to having a better understanding of how this disease is spread and therefore how to prevent it. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of an HIV/AIDS prevention intervention on HIV/AIDS related knowledge among Chilean women.

Methods: An experimental, longitudinal study examined the impact of the “Mano a Mano” prevention intervention on HIV related knowledge among Chilean women (RO1 TW006977. PI Cianelli). Participants were recruited from two low income communities in Santiago (intervention= 244, Control =252). Outcomes were evaluated at three points in time, baseline (pre-intervention), post- intervention or 6 weeks, and 3 months post. Analysis was performed using ANOVA with repeated measures and t-test.

Results: Statistically significant differences were found between intervention and control groups and across the three measures in time (F=93.33, p<0.05).  Statistically significant increases in HIV related knowledge were found among the intervention group post intervention ( t=-16.54, p<0.05) and 3 months post(t=16.334, p<0.05), while there was no change in knowledge in the control group (p>0.05). Additionally  intervention groups demonstrated higher scores than control at  6 weeks(t=10.65, p< 0.05) and 3 months post intervention (t= 9.78, p<0.05)

Conclusion: This HIV intervention was effective in creating positive changes in knowledge among Chilean women, demonstrating that culturally adapted, nursing HIV prevention interventions can be successful. HIV/AIDS related knowledge is a protective factor in the prevention of HIV, and because of this it is necessary for nursing to include it in the realization of effective prevention programs.