Theory-Based Behavioral Intervention Increases Mother–Son Communication About Sexual Risk Reduction Among Inner-City African-Americans

Abstract

Purpose: African-American adolescent males are at increased risk for HIV, yet there are few sexual risk-reduction interventions targeting this population. Interventions that include mothers can influence parenting behaviors and in turn, reduce risky behaviors in adolescents. This study tests the efficacy of the Mother–Son Health Promotion Project at increasing mother–son communication about sexual risk reduction. Methods: African-American mothers with their sons (ages 10–15 years) residing in public housing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania were randomized into a HIV/sexually transmitted infections risk-reduction intervention consisting of 16 1-hour modules or an attention-matched health-promotion control intervention. Mothers and sons completed surveys pre-intervention, immediately postintervention, and at 3-, 6-, 12-, 18- and 24-months postintervention. Results: Of 525 mother–son dyads, 366 (69.7%) completed the 24-months postintervention follow-up survey. Generalized-estimating-equations models using both mothers’ and sons’ reports revealed that over 24 months, mothers and sons in the HIV/sexually transmitted infections risk-reduction intervention were more likely to communicate about sexual health, including sexual intercourse, birth control, HIV/AIDS prevention, and condoms. Intervention efficacy was found to weaken over time. Conclusions: This culturally grounded, theory-based intervention was efficacious in increasing mother–son communication about sexual risk reduction. The work highlights the value of the intervention to increase parental protective factors, including communication by mothers, to decrease HIV risk behaviors of African-American adolescent males.