Objective |
Population studied |
Intervention |
Measure of association and impact RR, OR, ARR and NNT (95%CI) |
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Behavioral counseling for sexual risk reduction aimed at preventing STD/HIV in primary care in 20148. |
To assess the benefits and risks of sexual counseling strategies in order to reduce risk for STIs/HIV infection |
Systematic review of 31 RCTs (n = 70,324) comprising predominantly African-American female adolescents and adults, in primary care clinics and STD/HIV services |
"Low intensity" interventions Up to 0.5 hour of duration "Moderate intensity" interventions Between 0.5 and 2 hours of duration "High intensity" interventions" Over 2 hours of duration |
STD/HIV infections in adolescents in 12 months: "Low" and "medium intensity" interventions No difference between groups "High intensity" interventions OR = 0.38 (95%CI 0.24 - 0.60) NNT = 11 (95%CI 9 - 18) with cumulative incidence of 15% per year. STD/HIV infections in adults in 12 months: "Low intensity" interventions OR = 0.85 (95%CI 0.66 - 1.10) "Medium intensity" interventions OR = 0.88 (95%CI 0.66 - 1.04) "High intensity" interventions OR = 0.70 (95%CI 0.56 - 0.87) NNT = 25 (95%CI 17 59), with cumulative incidence of 15% per year. |
Eaton L et al. Meta-analysis of behavioral interventions in single counseling sessions for STD/HIV prevention in 201213. |
To assess whether interventions for risk reduction of exposure to HIV and other STDs based on single educational sessions reduce the occurrence of STD/HIV |
52,465 people in 20 RCTs and observational studies |
Behavioral strategies to reduce incidence of STD/HIV from a single counseling session aimed at reducing behaviors related to HIV exposure. Did not included interventions involving counseling and HIV testing |
STD/HIV occurrence OR = 0.65 (95%CI 0.55 - 0.77) Condom use OR = 0.22 (95%CI 0.06 - 0.37) |
Objective |
Population studied |
Intervention |
Measure of association and impact RR, OR, ARR and NNT (95%CI) |
Fonner et al. Systematic review on voluntary counseling and testing for changing HIV-related risk in developing countries14. |
Systematically review the literature examining the effectiveness of testing and voluntary counseling strategies in changing HIV-related behaviors in developing countries |
40,309 individuals evaluated in one RCT and several observational studies |
Systematic review and meta-analysis involving studies conducted in low and middle income countries: Sub-Saharan Africa, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Zambia, Mozambique and Kenya |
Reduction in number of sexual partners OR = 0.69 (95%CI 0.53 - 0.90) Increased frequency of condom use OR = 1.39 (95%CI 0.97 - 1.99) Increased frequency of condom use among HIV-positive individuals OR = 3.24 (95%CI 2.29 - 4.58) There were no differences in the incidence of HIV and STD/HIV between participants who received voluntary counseling associated with HIV testing and those who did not receive such strategy |
Study: effectiveness of counseling for risk reduction in transmission of HIV and STDs. RESPECT Study, 19989. |
To compare the effects of two interactive counseling interventions for STD/HIV prevention with educational messages |
5,758 seronegative individuals |
Group 1: Extended counseling + 4 interactive sessions at 3 - 4 week intervals (200 minutes total) Group 2: Brief counseling + 2 interactive sessions at 7 - 10 day intervals (40 minutes total) Group 3: Two educational messages given at 7 - 10 days Group 4: Two educational messages at 7 - 10 days without follow-up by the end of the study |
STD/HIV infections in 6 months: Extended counseling (group 1) RR = 0.69 (95%CI 0.54 - 0.88) NNT = 32 (95%CI 19 - 91) Brief counseling (group 2) RR = 0.72 (95%CI 0.56 - 0.91) NNT = 35 (95%CI 20 - 116) STD/HIV infections in 12 months: Extended counseling (group 1) RR = 0.78 (95%CI 0.65 - 0.95) NNT = 32 (95%CI 18 - 146) Brief counseling (group 2) RR = 0.79 (95%CI 0.68 - 0.98) NNT = 38 (95%CI 19 - 527) |
Objective |
Population studied |
Intervention |
Measure of association and impact (RR, OR and NNT (95%CI)) |
Relative effectiveness of counseling for HIV prevention with rapid and conventional tests. Randomized clinical trial. RESPECT 2 Study, 200510. |
To compare the effectiveness of counseling and testing using rapid HIV testing, in a single visit, with counseling and testing with standard test, conducted in two visits |
3,281 seronegative individuals |
Standard counseling: One 40-minute session + conventional HIV test (two visits) Brief counseling: One 30-minute session + rapid HIV test (one visit) |
STD/HIV infections in 12 months: Brief counseling (group 2) RR = 1.1 (95%CI 0.96 - 1.29) STD/HIV infections in 12 months among men who have sex with men: Brief counseling (group 2) RR = 1.86 (95%CI 0.92 - 3.76) STD/HIV infections in individuals without STD/HIV history: Brief counseling RR = 1.21 (95%CI 0.99 - 1.48) |
Effect of counseling with rapid testing in reducing the risk of STD/HIV infection. AWARE Study, 201311. |
To evaluate the effect of brief counseling strategies centered on the patient at the moment of rapid HIV testing on the risk of subsequent STD/HIV infection |
5,012 patients from nine American DST clinics |
Counseling group: Risk reduction strategies based on the patient, recommendations used in the RESPECT 2 Study, followed by rapid testing Control group: Rapid test accompanied by verbal information corresponding to the test procedure itself, its interpretation and information about the test's "window" period |
STD/HIV infections in 6 months: ARR = 1.12 (95%CI 0.94 - 1.33) STD/HIV infections in six months among MSM: ARR = 1.41 (95%CI 1.05 - 1.90) STD/HIV infections in six months among women: ARR = 1.07 (95%CI 0.79 - 1.43) STD/HIV infections in six months among MSW: ARR = 0.81 (95%CI 0.50 - 1.31) |