Abstract
This dissertation sought to evaluate the efficacy of brief, HIV risk-reduction counseling (versus information only) among subgroups of substance abuse treatment clients by conducting a series of post-hoc analyses of data that were collected from the CTN 0032 trial. It was hypothesized that HIV risk-reduction counseling would be associated with decreased sexual risk behaviors in several subgroups as determined by baseline characteristics. Findings of this dissertation suggest that brief, HIV risk-reduction counseling delivered in conjunction with rapid HIV testing is not efficacious in reducing number of risky sex acts among subgroups of substance abuse treatment clients. Findings suggest that brief, HIV risk-reduction counseling may be efficacious in reducing total number of sex partners among some subgroups. Findings will potentially inform the national HIV prevention agenda by helping to determine whether the current CDC recommendation on HIV testing should be applied broadly versus to specific target groups and, therefore, determine whether monetary resources for risk-reduction counseling should be allocated to specific target groups.