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THP 126 The Condom Carnival: Efficacy of a Novel Group Intervention for Decreasing Sexual Risk Among Black and White Adolescents and Young Adults

Thursday, September 22, 2016
Galleria Exhibit Hall
Mollie Anderson, M.S.1, Idia Thurston, PhD2, Robin Hardin, MA2, Kristina Decker, MA2, Caroline Kaufman, BS2, Carla Edmonson, BA2, Lacy Jamison, BA2, Alicia Whetstone, BA2, KaDarian Stewart, BPS3, Jamie Padden, BS2 and Theresa Okwumabua, PhD3, 1Department of Psychology, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, 2Department of Psychology, The University of Memphis, 3The University of Memphis

Background:  One-third of adolescents and young adults (AYA) attending college did not use a condom at last sex. This likely contributes to the high incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancies among AYA, with even higher rates among Black AYA. Unprotected sex has many personal and societal costs; therefore, interventions are needed to decrease sexual risk. We examined the efficacy of the Condom Carnival (CC), a brief, interactive, culturally-tailored, peer-led, group intervention to reduce sexual risk. 

Methods:  Participants were 32 AYA from a Mid-South university (24% Male, 76% Female; 65% Black, 35% White; Mage=19.3, SD=1.7; 83% Heterosexual). Participants engaged in eight interactive sexual-risk reduction intervention activities designed to teach: correct condom usage, condom negotiation, lubricant safety, importance of HIV/STI testing as well as risks associated with oral sex, multiple partners, and substance use during sex. A mixed between-within subjects ANOVA was conducted to determine the impact of the CC as measured by participants’ endorsement of correct condom use steps from pre-test to post-test.

Results:  Approximately 89% of AYA endorsed being sexually active, 55% reported not using condoms at last sex, 18% had unplanned pregnancies, 14% reported previous STIs, and 41% indicated they had no sex education. The ANOVA revealed a significant interaction of time and race, λ=.81, F(1, 27)=16.21, p<.02, η2=.19. Specifically, Black participants (Pre: X=12.0, SD=2.0; Post: X=14.1, SD=1.7) had more gains in correct condom use knowledge than White participants (Pre: X=14.6, SD=1.7; Post: X=14.8, SD=1.4) from pre- to post-intervention. 

Conclusions:  The Condom Carnival effectively taught AYA correct condom use skills with higher risk populations (Black AYA) benefitting most from this tailored intervention. The Condom Carnival is an innovative and developmentally appropriate way to engage Black AYA in sexual risk reduction and condom promotion efforts to combat high pregnancy and STI/HIV rates within the Black community.

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