PASHA Program Archive ST22

FOCUS: Preventing Sexually Transmitted Infections and Unwanted Pregnancies among Young Women
Cherrie Boyer, PhD, Mary-Ann Shafer, MD, Lance Pollack, PhD, Kelli Betsinger, BA, Y. Jason Yang, MS, Julius Schachter, PhD, Richard Shaffer, PhD, Stephanie Brodine, MD, Heidi Kraft, PhD

The FOCUS program, a four-session cognitive-behavioral group intervention addressed preventing sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and unintended pregnancies, was originally delivered to young women US Marine Corps recruits.

Following a baseline survey 2,157 women were randomized into either the experimental group (n=1,062) or the control group (n=1,095. Both groups received interventions of four two-hour sessions.

Approximately one month after completing the intervention, 80.8% (n=1,743) of the original sample participated. At second follow-up, 64% (n=1,381) of the original sample took part.

The evaluation results revealed that a higher proportion of the control group had a post-intervention STD or unintended pregnancy (Odds Ratio = 1.41, 95% Confidence Interval = 1.01-1.98). Among participants who had no history of STDs or pregnancy, but who engaged in risky sexual behaviors just before recruit training, the control group was more likely to acquire a post-intervention STD (OR = 2.05, CI = 1.74-4.08), and have had multiple sexual partners (OR = 1.87, CI = 1.01-3.47) post-intervention.