title: A response to Edzi (AIDS): Malawi faith-based organizations' impact on HIV prevention and care.
abstract: African faith-based organization (FBO) leaders influence their members' HIV knowledge, beliefs, and practices, but their roles in HIV prevention and care are poorly understood. This article expands the work of Garner (2000) to test the impact of FBO influence on member risk and care behaviors, embedding it in the Theory of Planned Behavior. Qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys were collected from five FBOs (Christian and Muslim) in Malawi and analyzed using mixed methods. Contrary to Garner, we found that the level of power and influence of the FBO had no significant impact on the risk-taking behaviors of members; however, leaders' HIV knowledge predicted members' behaviors. Stigmatizing attitudes of leaders significantly decreased members' care behaviors, but FBO hierarchy tended to increase members' care behaviors. The power of local church and mosque leaders to influence behavior could be exploited more effectively by nurses by providing support, knowledge, and encouragement to churches and mosques.
authors.affiliation: The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey,USA.
authors.forename: Teri
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lindgren
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schell
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rankin
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Phiri
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fiedler
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chakanza
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002835:Christianity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007514:Islam; D007857:Leadership; D008295:Malawi; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009014:Morals; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012944:Social Support; D013240:Stereotyping; D055815:Young Adult