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| Abstract #612 - Social and Behavior Change Communication to Prevent HIV. Global impact. | ||||
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Session: 29.4: Social and Behavior Change Communication to Prevent HIV. Global impact. (Lunchtime) on Tuesday @ 13.15-14.15 in Raval Chaired by Michelle Kaufman Authors: Presenting Author: Dr. Michelle Kaufman - Johns Hopkins University, United States |
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| Additional Authors: Mr. John Miller, Ms. Kimberley Ibarra, Mr. Frank Wagner, | ||||
| Aim: The BRIDGE II Project is a USAID funded program (2009-2014) whose overall objective is to contribute to the reduction of new HIV infections in Malawi by promoting normative behavior change and increasing HIV prevention behaviors among the adult population through implementation of an evidence-based communication program. This study assesses the outcomes of the BRIDGE II midterm evaluation conducted in 2012, including 1) how intervention messages have been received, and 2) improvements in HIV prevention behaviors and behavioral predictors over the initial 2-year period. | ||||
| Method / Issue: : As part of the overall evaluation, BRIDGE II conducted a household-level baseline survey in 2009. Two years later, another survey was conducted in the form of a midterm evaluation. Both cross-sectional and longitudinal data were collected. Traditional authorities were first stratified by level of campaign activity and then, within each of the three (low, medium, or high activity) areas, 50% of the baseline sample was randomly selected for longitudinal follow-up. The current study focuses only on the longitudinal data (n=685, 55.6% female). | ||||
| Results / Comments: Preliminary ANOVA results of the longitudinal data show significant increases in HIV testing (p<.05), and a reduction in HIV/AIDS-related stigma for those exposed to BRIDGE II between baseline and midterm (p<.05). Also for those exposed to the intervention, self-efficacy to have only one sexual partner, to use condoms, and to discuss condoms with one?s sexual partner increased significantly at midterm, despite already high levels at baseline (p<.05). Finally, among those exposed to the intervention, the belief that most others approve of using condoms increased significantly from baseline to midterm (p<.05). | ||||
| Discussion: Exposure to the BRIDGE II intervention resulted in several positive outcomes at midterm. This was true for self-efficacy, stigma, and HIV testing. The rates of HIV testing are remarkable because, during the study period, many areas in Malawi were short in testing kits and supplies. Hence, it is likely that, in the absence of such shortage, testing rates would have further increased. The high levels of self-efficacy at baseline were further improved at midterm. Given that self-efficacy is one of the strongest predictors of behavior change, this finding bodes well for impending improvements in behavior. These significant findings across longitudinal data show the impact of the BRIDGE II program on HIV-related behavior and psychosocial variables even before the conclusion of the intervention programming. It is likely that if trends continue for this cohort into the endline measurement that the impact of BRIDGE II on HIV in Malawi will be substantial. | ||||
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