Effects of a Peer-Driven HIV/HCV Intervention Program With Reentering Drug Offenders

Due to risky drug use and sexual behaviors, the incarcerated population has been identified as having a higher prevalence of viral infections compared with the general population. The goal of this study was to evaluate the differences between a peer one-on-one and a peer group intervention on the effectiveness of a Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) program with reentering drug offenders in the criminal justice system. Guided by the harm reduction approach and using secondary data, a comparative analysis between the Criminal Justice Drug Abuse Treatment Studies (CJ-DATS) peer one-on-one intervention and the peer group intervention was conducted. Repeated measures ANOVA assessed the difference in knowledge, attitudes, and behavior change due to the peer interventions, and multiple linear regression determined if demographic variables significantly predicted these changes. Results indicated that criminal drug offenders have a low level of knowledge about HIV and HCV transmission and are unsure or have a positive attitude toward using safe sex practices. There was no significant change in scores for either intervention. However, behavior change occurred after both interventions: Drug offenders decreased their drug use and sexual behaviors. No impact was observed due to the peer one-on-one intervention compared with the peer group intervention. Demographic variables that were statistically significant only accounted for a small proportion of the variance in prediction models. Implications for positive social change include evidence for policymakers and public health professionals that peer harm reduction interventions can promote behavior change to decrease HIV and HCV infection and improve health outcomes within this marginalized population.