Feasibility and Effectiveness of HIV Prevention Among Wives of Heavy Drinkers in Bangalore, India

Few studies have examined the effectiveness of community based HIV interventions for monogamous married women. We examined prevalence of risky behaviors and effectiveness of a Western intervention on increased knowledge and reductions in risky behaviors among wives of heavy drinkers in an urban slum in Bangalore, India. Household enumeration was conducted on 509 households; wives of the youngest married man 18–50 years of age who scored 8+ on the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) were selected (N = 100) and assessed with Indian adaptations of the Substance Abuse Module (SAM), the Washington University Risk Behavior Assessment for Women (WU-RBA-W), the Violence Exposure Questionnaire (VEQ), the CES-D, the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS-IV), and a Proxy AUDIT. After random assignment to either the Standard (Pre-post HIV counseling; N = 50) or the Enhanced Intervention (Standard + Body Wise Intervention; N = 50), women were re-assessed at 2 months; a 100% follow-up rate was achieved. Though no major intervention effects were found, at follow-up women were less likely to report victimization and perpetrated violence, more likely to feel empowered to make decisions about birth control, and were more knowledgeable about how to protect themselves from STDs and HIV. The findings have implications for HIV prevention among at risk monogamous women in community settings.