182478 Crossroads of STI/HIV and Reproductive Health Education: Terminating the STI/HIV transmission chain in a resource poor setting

Wednesday, October 29, 2008: 11:15 AM

Adejuwonlo Ekundayo, MB, CHB , Division of Research, Assessment and Evaluation, RTE Systems Corp, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria
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
Gwendolyn Prater, PhD , Dean college of public service, Jackson State Univesity, Jackson, MS
Sridevi Alla, MBBS , STD/HIV Bureau, Mississippi State Department of Health, Jackson, MS
     
Introduction

In the resource poor third world, individual behavior change to control infectious disease epidemics becomes important. Thus, individual behavior change that results in infection transmission chain termination may be a way to effectively prevent HIV distribution. Due to issues such as stigma and loss, motivation to communicate infection status to the partner may be difficult to predict. This paper uses the related behavior of discussing family planning to predict partner notification of STI/HIV infection. The health education implications are outlined.

Method

Data from the 2005 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) of the Republic of Guinea were used to provide measure variables for constructs in the Related Behavior Model. Variables were scored and dichotomized. The relationships of STI/HIV Knowledge, Family Planning Knowledge, Family Marital Structure, Family Planning Discussions and Family Planning Practice with Partner Notification of STI/HIV were analyzed, using logistic regression

Results

Odds Ratio for the relationships of partner notification, with family planning discussions and knowledge of STI/HIV were significant and positive. However, no other construct in the related behavior model was significantly related to partner notification

Conclusion:

Behavior communication that encourages notification of infection status from family planning discussion and knowledge of infection symptoms may help terminate STI/HIV transmission in resource poor settings. Developing programs and policies that encourage individual behavioral vigilance and modification, reducing stigma, encouraging open, direct communication among key players may help terminate the STI/HIV transmission chain and reduce spread

Learning Objectives:
1. Outline the constructs of the Related Behavior Model 2. Identify key operationalizing measure variables used in the related behavior model to determine relationships of Partner notification with the independent variables. 3. Describe the relationships of family planning discussions and STI/HIV knowledge with partner notification of STI/HIV status 4. Outline the health education implications of the relationship of family planning discussions with partner notification

Keywords: Health Education Strategies, HIV/AIDS

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Co-Investigator and Consultant
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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