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http://hdl.handle.net/1956/2689
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| Title: | Lost opportunities in HIV prevention: programmes miss places where exposures are highest |
| Authors: | Sandøy, Ingvild F.
Siziya, Seter
Fylkesnes, Knut |
| Issue Date: | 24-Jan-2008 |
| Publisher: | BioMed Central |
| Citation: | BMC Public Health 2008, 8:31 |
| Abstract: | Background: Efforts at HIV prevention that focus on high risk places might be more effective and
less stigmatizing than those targeting high risk groups. The objective of the present study was to
assess risk behaviour patterns, signs of current preventive interventions and apparent gaps in places
where the risk of HIV transmission is high and in communities with high HIV prevalence.
Methods: The PLACE method was used to collect data. Inhabitants of selected communities in
Lusaka and Livingstone were interviewed about where people met new sexual partners. Signs of
HIV preventive activities in these places were recorded. At selected venues, people were
interviewed about their sexual behaviour. Peer educators and staff of NGOs were also
interviewed.
Results: The places identified were mostly bars, restaurants or sherbeens, and fewer than 20%
reported any HIV preventive activity such as meetings, pamphlets or posters. In 43% of places in
Livingstone and 26% in Lusaka, condoms were never available. There were few active peer
educators. Among the 432 persons in Lusaka and 676 in Livingstone who were invited for interview
about sexual behaviour, consistent condom use was relatively high in Lusaka (77%) but low in
Livingstone (44% of men and 34% of women). Having no condom available was the most common
reason for not using one. Condom use in Livingstone was higher among individuals socializing in
places where condoms always were available.
Conclusion: In the places studied we found a high prevalence of behaviours with a high potential
for HIV transmission but few signs of HIV preventive interventions. Covering the gaps in prevention
in these high exposure places should be given the highest priority. |
| URI: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-8-31
http://hdl.handle.net/1956/2689 |
| Appears in Collections: | Centre for International Health
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