142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

Home Events & Meetings Annual Meeting Schedule & Program

Online Program

Annual Meeting Recordings are now available for purchase

307965
Can a Combined Structural Microfinance, Food Security and Gender Empowerment Intervention Impact STI Symptoms and Diagnoses in Rural Central Malawi?

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Monday, November 17, 2014 : 12:45 PM - 1:00 PM

Lindsay Emer, BA , Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI
Loren W. Galvao, MD, MPH , Center for Global Health Equity, College of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI
Alice Fang Yan, MD, PhD , Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI
Katarina Grande, MPH , Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI
Thokozani Mwenyekonde , CARE, CARE International in Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
Patricia E. Stevens, RN, PhD, FAAN , College of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI
Lucy Mkandawire-Valhmu, PhD, RN , College of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI
Thula Saka, Diploma Rural Development , CARE International in Malawi, CARE, Lilongwe, Malawi
Chrispine Manda , CARE International in Malawi, Malawi
Gerald Kosamu , CARE International-Malawi, Malawi
Chrissie Depete, Diploma Rural Development , CARE International in Malawi, CARE, Lilongwe, Malawi
Emmanuel Ngui, DrPH, MSc , Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI
Melissa Lemke, MA , Center for Urban Population Health, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Milwaukee, WI
Lance S. Weinhardt, PhD , Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI
Audio (mp3) recording Recorded Presentation (mp4)
Malawi bears one of the heaviest HIV burdens globally (10.6% adult prevalence). The presence of sexually transmitted infections (STI) increases HIV transmission, making controlling the spread of STIs critical. In a non-equivalent control group effectiveness study (SAGE4Health), we examined how a structural microfinance, food security, and gender empowerment intervention may temper HIV vulnerability in Malawi.

We assessed two self-report outcomes: (1) new STI symptoms (reporting one of six STI symptoms at 18-month or 36-month follow-up), (2) new STI diagnosis (clinician-diagnosed with either one of six STIs at 18-month or 36-month follow-up) in intervention participants (N=600) and control participants (N=300).  We used Chi-Square tests to analyze the categorical variables and logistic regressions to examine the intervention effect on new STI symptoms and diagnoses.

Compared to the control group, the intervention group was less likely (OR=.51, 95% CI=.33-.79) to report having new STI symptoms at 36-month, controlling for symptoms presented at 18-month. This holds true for intervention men and women compared to control. Although not statistically significant, participants in the intervention group reported a higher percentage of newly diagnosed STIs at 36-month than the control. Among six STIs assessed, syphilis was the most commonly reported STI diagnosis (prevalence 2.3%-5.3%).

This combined structural intervention appears to have contributed to a decrease in newly presented STI symptoms.  Coupled with the increase in new STI diagnoses, this could mean that the intervention contributed to an increase in STI testing and a decrease in undiagnosed STIs in the intervention group.

Learning Areas:

Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Evaluate the effect of a combined structural microfinance, food security and gender empowerment intervention on STI symptoms and diagnoses in rural central Malawi. Describe the prevalence of STI symptoms and diagnoses in rural Malawi among participants in an intervention study sample

Keyword(s): STDs/STI, Food Security

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a doctoral student working on the team in charge of analyzing the results of this grant and am a research assistant for the grant's Principle 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.

Back to: 3263.0: Social Determinants of Health 1