title: 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.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Health Research Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gyneacology, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. apettif@email.unc.edu
authors.forename: Audrey E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Pettifor
authors.forename: Immo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kleinschmidt
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.forename: Helen V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Rees
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: MacPhail
authors.forename: Lindiwe
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Madikizela-Hlongwa
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vermaak
authors.forename: Grant
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Napier
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: Nancy S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Padian
mesh_terms: 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