A Comparison of HIV Knowledge, Sex Risk Reduction, HIV Services & Testing, and Risk Reduction Skills in the WaySafe and StaySafe Interventions

Abstract

Justice-involved people with substance use disorders are an at-risk population for health risk behaviors, particularly those related to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections. Risk-reduction programs provide correctional agencies with a practical solution in to reducing HIV-related health risks in justice-involved populations. This study compared two interventions (in-prison, group-based WaySafe with self-adminstered, tablet-based StaySafe for people on probation) to determine whether one intervention was more effective than the other in terms of common outcomes. Multi-level analyses compared effect sizes from outcome studies testing WaySafe and StaySafe. Results showed the interventions had similar effects with regard to measures of HIV Knowledge, HIV Services and Testing, and Risk Reduction Skills. Collectively, this study suggests the StaySafe intervention can be used in situations where the more intensive WaySafe intervention is not feasible and affords correctional agencies the flexibility to implement the curriculum that best meets their organization’s goals and needs.