HIV prevention intervention among employees in a tertiary institution in the Eastern Cape of South Africa

The aim of this study was to develop, implement and evaluate a motivation-based HIV-related risk reduction intervention for employees in a tertiary institution using a pre-post test intervention design. All 330 employees were invited through email, telephonic contacts, posters, flyers and word of mouth to participate in the study. At pre test, 233 employees completed a survey regarding HIV-related knowledge, risk perceptions, behavioural intentions and risk behavior. Participants were then assigned to either an experimental (intervention; n = 104) or a control group (n = 129). The participants in the intervention group were invited to attend the four intervention sessions on HIV risk reduction. Post intervention data indicated that employees in the HIV-risk reduction intervention enhanced their knowledge and behavioural intentions but could not strengthen their sexual communication skills nor reduce their risk behaviour.