176003 Preventing HIV transmission in resource-poor settings: Distinguishing between forms of behavior for partner notification in the Republic of Guinea

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Olugbemiga Tanilepada Ekundayo, MD, MPH, DrPH , Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS
Mario J. Azevedo, PhD , Department of Epidemiology, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS
Joyce Buckner-Brown, PhD, MHS, RRT , Department of Health Policy & Management, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS
Sridevi Alla, MBBS , STD/HIV Bureau, Mississippi State Department of Health, Jackson, MS
Adejuwonlo Ekundayo, MB, CHB , Division of Research, RTE Systems Corp, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria
Gwendolyn Prater, PhD , Dean college of public service, Jackson State Univesity, Jackson, MS
  
Introduction:

Most strategies for HIV prevention in resource poor environments have not been sustainable due to a requirement for high resource input that generally ignores strengths in the host environments. However, HIV transmission, especially in resource poor settings, is significantly interpersonal and intimate. Generating individual behavior that encourages primary prevention among key actors in the HIV transmission chain is an important factor for transmission prevention. This presentation examines the specifics of behavior that differentiate between “speech” and “action” types and touches on the implications for personal action to terminate the transmission chain.

Methods

Using the Related Behavior Model, mixed methods analyses, were applied to data from the 2005 MacroInt Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) of reproductive age women in the Republic of Guinea who reported having STI in the preceding 12 months. Using hermeneutic, thematic, factor and alpha analyses, defining variables were selected for the Related Behavior Model constructs. Variables were scored and dichotomized. Logistic regression was then used to determine the relationships of family marital status, knowledge of STI/HIV, knowledge of family planning, family planning discussions and family planning practice to partner notification of STI/HIV.

Results

Analyses differentiated between “speech” or verbal mode behavior and “action” or none verbal activity. Women who discussed family planning with their husbands were more likely to inform their spouses of their STI/HIV status than those who practiced family planning but did not discuss it with their spouses. Implications for transmission chain termination and prevention program planning are outlined

Learning Objectives:
1. Differentiate between “talk” and “action” modes of behavior 2. Identify the construct structure of the Related Behavior Model 3. Identify the relationships between independent and dependent variables of the Related Behavior Model 4. Outline the implications of partner notification for transmission chain termination 5. Outline implications of RBM for Infectious disease prevention education and policy

Keywords: Epidemiology, HIV/AIDS

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Principal Investigator
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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