HIV risk behaviors in sub-Saharan Africa and Northern Thailand: baseline behavioral data from Project Accept.
BACKGROUND
Of 2.5 million new HIV infections worldwide in 2007, most occurred in sub-Saharan Africa and southeast Asia. We present the baseline data on HIV risk behaviors and HIV testing in sub-Saharan Africa and northern Thailand from Project Accept, a community-randomized controlled trial of community mobilization, mobile voluntary counseling and testing (VCT), and posttest support services.


METHODS
A random household probability sample of individuals aged 18-32 years yielded a sample of 14,657, with response rates ranging from 84%-94% across the 5 sites (Thailand, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and 2 in South Africa). Individuals completed an interviewer-administered survey on demographic characteristics, HIV risk behaviors, and history of VCT.


RESULTS
In multivariate analysis, females, married individuals, less educated with 1 sexual partner in the past 6 months were more likely to have had unprotected intercourse in the previous 6 months. Rates of lifetime HIV testing ranged from 5.4% among males in Zimbabwe to 52.6% among females in Soweto.


CONCLUSIONS
Significant risk of HIV acquisition in Project Accept communities exists despite 2 decades of prevention efforts. Low levels of recent HIV testing suggest that increasing awareness of HIV status through accessible VCT services may reduce HIV transmission.
Genberg
Becky L
BL
Department of Epidemiology, The Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Kulich
Michal
M
Kawichai
Surinda
S
Modiba
Precious
P
Chingono
Alfred
A
Kilonzo
Gad P
GP
Richter
Linda
L
Pettifor
Audrey
A
Sweat
Michael
M
Celentano
David D
DD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D000368:Aged; D017280:Condoms; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013785:Thailand