SAHARA: A computer-based HIV intervention

SAHARA is an interactive media program which educates participants about the risks of HIV and encourages preventive measures to reduce the chances of its transmission. The program, carried out over two consecutive Saturdays, consists of two, 60-minute computer-based sessions (one 60-minute session for each Saturday) on a laptop followed by a 15-minute small group session with a trained facilitator. The first session emphasizes ethnic and racial pride by showing a video timeline that chronicles the many successes that African American women have had over the last few decades, as well as documents the risk factors and prevalence of HIV among African American women. The second part of the module is more interactive and primarily focuses on demonstrating healthy sexual behaviors, such as correct and consistent condom use, as well as realistic decision-making strategies and communication skills.

SAHARA is a computer-based HIV intervention that targets African American women to promote healthy sexual behaviors to reduce the risk of HIV transmission.

These findings which demonstrate major improvements in HIV-preventive behaviors suggest that SAHARA is an effective evidence-based promising practice; it is inexpensive and only requires two hours.

The SAHARA study was organized as a randomized control trial involving 135 participants (African-American women, ages 21-29 years-old, who sought services at Planned Parenthood in Atlanta, Georgia). Of the 135 total participants, 67 were randomized to the computer-based HIV intervention while 68 were randomized to the control, a 60-minute general health information session conducted by an African-American female facilitator. The computer-based HIV intervention consisted of two 60-minute computer sessions followed by 15-minute small group sessions (also conducted by an African-American female facilitator).

To evaluate the effectiveness of SAHARA, investigators chose consistent condom use as the primary outcome due to its importance in preventing HIV transmission in couples; previous studies showed that consistent condom use reduces the risk of HIV transmission by 70-100%. Consistent condom use was considered as using a condom during every episode of intercourse (vaginal/oral) with a partner. Results were measured three months post-intervention. Subjects who participated in the computer intervention had 5.9 times the odds of using condoms for vaginal sex (p<0.039) and 13.83 times the odds of using condoms for oral sex (p<0.037) compared to those who did not undergo SAHARA (control group). Furthermore, several other quantitative measures showed statistically significant improvement in the intervention group for areas such as increased frequency of condom use, increased knowledge of HIV/STD prevention, and improved condom-use.