Method: Latina women, aged 18-44, from several communities sited in Chicago, IL were recruited for this study. Women were randomly assigned to either an intervention or control group. Both groups were assessed at baseline, 6-week, 3-month and 6-month post intervention. The HIV risk reduction intervention consisted of the six weekly sessions including: condom use, sexual communication and negotiation, conflict management and violence prevention, problem solving, risk awareness, and peer support for change. The intervention results at the 3- and 6-month follow-up in a subsample (n=332) of Mexican women were analyzed.

Results: Mexican women in this sample had low acculturation levels; 86% of the interviewees were in Spanish, 87% lived with partners, and 72% had fewer than 2 lifetime partners. At the 3- and 6-month follow up, the intervention groups were more likely to use condoms. Adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval (CI) were 1.939 (1.085±3.466) and 1.501 (.885±2.546), respectively. Also, the intervention group had higher HIV knowledge: difference scores and 95% CI were 2.883 (2.459±3.308) and 2.296 (1.887±2.705), respectively. For “health protective communication” where higher scores are better, the intervention group had higher scores: 2.068 (1.299±2.837) at 3-month and 1.012 (.247±1.778) at 6-month. For “risk reduction behavioral intentions” where higher scores are better, the intervention group had higher scores at 3-month: 1.113 (.485±1.742) and at 6-month: .559 (.000±1.118). For “perceived condom use barriers” where higher scores are better, the intervention group had higher scores at both 3-month and 6-month: 1.748 (1.077±2.418) and .997 (.343±1.652).

Conclusions: The program was highly successful in increasing HIV knowledge and decreasing risk behaviors among low income, Mexican women in the U.S. This intervention should be tested among other Latina subgroups.