title: Effects of the Gama Cuulu radio serial drama on HIV-related behavior change in Zambia.
abstract: The Gama Cuulu radio serial drama is written and produced in Zambia's Southern Province. It promotes behavior change and service use to prevent HIV transmission. The authors evaluated the effects of Gama Cuulu on intermediate outcomes (e.g., perceived norms), as well as number of sexual partners, condom use, and HIV testing in the past year among adults between 18 and 49 years of age. The authors used a pretest/posttest assessment with a comparison group design, with Southern Province as the intervention area and Western Province as the comparison area. Approximately 1,500 in-person interviews were conducted in both provinces in 2006 (pretest), 2007, and 2008. Regression models included terms for province, time, and the interaction of the two. Outcomes improved in both provinces (e.g., by 2008, 37.6% of participants in Southern Province and 28.3% participants in Western Province tested for HIV in the past year). Pretest-to-posttest changes in condom use (from 20.2% to 29.4% in Southern Province) and 5 intermediate outcomes were significantly different in the 2 provinces. However, changes in condom use were not associated with listening to Gama Cuulu and changes in other outcomes were similar in both provinces. Weak intervention effects might be attributable to implementation challenges or the saturation of HIV programs in Zambia.
authors.affiliation: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, USA. jik4@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Joan Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kraft
authors.forename: Zelee
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Membe
authors.forename: Yujia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Elizabeth Onjoro
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Meassick
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monsour
authors.forename: Mwendalubi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maumbi
authors.forename: Phillimon
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ndubani
authors.forename: Joy Masheke
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Manengu
authors.forename: Alwyn
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mwinga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015397:Program Evaluation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011845:Radio; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012938:Social Perception; D055815:Young Adult; D015024:Zambia