Introduction:

Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of health education interventions to promote sexual risk reduction behaviours amongst socially and economically disadvantaged women in order to reduce transmission of Human papillomavirus (HPV), a leading agent in the development of cervical cancer. The intervention typically involves information provision and condom use/sexual negotiation skill development in a series of small group training sessions.

Methods: Electronic searching of medical/social science databases was undertaken as was hand-searching of selected journals. Relevant trials were identified, data were extracted and methodological quality was assessed independently by two reviewers.

Results: Thirty trials met the inclusion criteria for the review. Ten were judged methodologically sound and constitute the subset of studies from which potentially reliable conclusions may be drawn. Each of the ten sound studies showed a statistically significant positive effect on sexual risk reduction behaviour, typically with increased use of condoms for vaginal intercourse; This positive effect was generally sustained up to three months after intervention.

Discussion: Small group interventions targeting socially and economically disadvantaged women in which information provision is complemented by sexual negotiation skill development can encourage at least short-term sexual risk reduction behaviour. This has the potential to reduce the transmission of HPV, and to reduce the incidence of cervical carcinoma.