A community-based study to examine the effect of a youth HIV prevention intervention on young people aged 15-24 in South Africa: results of the baseline survey.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether South African youths living in communities that had either of two youth human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention interventions [(a) loveLife Youth Centre or (b) loveLife National Adolescent Friendly Clinic Initiative] would have a lower prevalence of HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and high risk sexual behaviours than communities without either of these interventions.


METHODS
In 2002 the baseline survey of a quasi-experimental, community-based study was conducted in South Africa. In total 33 communities were included in three study arms (11 communities per study arm). The final sample included 8735 youths aged 15-24 years. All participants took part in a behavioural interview and were tested for HIV, gonorrhoea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae) and Chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis).


RESULTS
HIV prevalence was 20.0% among females and 7.5% among males (OR 3.93 95% CI 2.51-6.15). There were no significant differences between study arms for HIV, NG or CT prevalence at baseline. In multiple regression analyses, HIV was significantly associated with NG infection (OR 1.96 95% CI 1.24-3.12) but not with CT infection. Youths who reported >1 lifetime partner were also significantly more likely to be infected with HIV (OR 1.98 95% CI 1.55-2.52), as were those who reported ever having engaged in transactional sex (OR 1.86 P = 0.02) or having had genital ulcers in the past 12 months (OR 1.71 P < or = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
HIV prevention programmes must ensure that gender inequities that place young women at greater risk for HIV infection are urgently addressed and they must continue to emphasize the importance of reducing the number of sexual partners and STI treatment.
Pettifor
Audrey E
AE
Reproductive Health Research Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gyneacology, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. apettif@email.unc.edu
Kleinschmidt
Immo
I
Levin
Jonathan
J
Rees
Helen V
HV
MacPhail
Catherine
C
Madikizela-Hlongwa
Lindiwe
L
Vermaak
Kerry
K
Napier
Grant
G
Stevens
Wendy
W
Padian
Nancy S
NS
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D015231:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology