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.
Department of Epidemiology, The Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Becky L
BL
Genberg
Michal
M
Kulich
Surinda
S
Kawichai
Precious
P
Modiba
Alfred
A
Chingono
Gad P
GP
Kilonzo
Linda
L
Richter
Audrey
A
Pettifor
Michael
M
Sweat
David D
DD
Celentano
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