title: Factors that lead to changes in sexual behaviours after a negative HIV test: protocol for a prospective cohort study in Kinshasa.
abstract: Considering the high percentage of couples in which one or both members are HIV negative, the frequency of transmission among non-regular partners and the probabilities of non-disclosure, attention should be paid to people getting a negative HIV test at the Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT). Research has shown that a negative HIV test may be followed by a change in sexual behaviours. In Sub-Saharan Africa, where most HIV infections occur, there are few studies that have analysed the factors associated with changes in sexual risk behaviours after a negative HIV test at the VCT clinic. The aim of this project is to evaluate the specific factors associated with changes in sexual behaviours, three months after a negative result in an HIV test, and to analyse the effect of counseling and testing on HIV-related knowledge of participants in an outpatient centre of Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo).
  
  
  
  Prospective cohort study from December 2014 until March 2016. People 15-60 year old that received VCT at Monkole Hospital (Kinshasa) were followed three months after they got a negative HIV test. In a face-to-face interview, participants replied to a baseline and a follow-up research questionnaire on HIV-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviours. At follow-up respondents were also offered a new HIV test and additional HIV counseling. Four hundred and fifteen participants completed the baseline questionnaire and 363 (87 %) came back for their 3-month follow up.
  
  
  
  This is the first longitudinal study in the DRC that evaluates the factors associated with changes in sexual behaviours after a negative HIV test at the VCT. Participants attending the VCT services within a clinical setting are a good study population as they can be good transmitters of preventive information for other people with no access to health facilities.
authors.affiliation: University of Navarra, Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, C/Irunlarrea, 1. 31080, Pamplona, Spain. scarlos@unav.es.|IdiSNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain. scarlos@unav.es.|University of Navarra, Institute for Culture and Society (ICS), Education of Affectivity and Human Sexuality, Pamplona, Spain. scarlos@unav.es.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carlos
authors.affiliation: CECFOR/Monkole Hospital, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.|University of Kinshasa, School of Public Health, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nzakimuena
authors.affiliation: IdiSNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain.|Clinic University of Navarra, Clinical Microbiology Department, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reina
authors.affiliation: University of Navarra, Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, C/Irunlarrea, 1. 31080, Pamplona, Spain.|IdiSNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain.|University of Navarra, Institute for Culture and Society (ICS), Education of Affectivity and Human Sexuality, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lopez-Del Burgo
authors.affiliation: University of Navarra, Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, C/Irunlarrea, 1. 31080, Pamplona, Spain.|CECFOR/Monkole Hospital, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Burgueño
authors.affiliation: CECFOR/Monkole Hospital, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Adolphe
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ndarabu
authors.affiliation: IdiSNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain.|University of Navarra, Institute for Culture and Society (ICS), Education of Affectivity and Human Sexuality, Pamplona, Spain.|University of Navarra, School of Education and Psychology, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Osorio
authors.affiliation: University of Navarra, Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, C/Irunlarrea, 1. 31080, Pamplona, Spain.|IdiSNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain.|University of Navarra, Institute for Culture and Society (ICS), Education of Affectivity and Human Sexuality, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jokin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Irala
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Africa; Behaviour; Cohort; HIV; Knowledge; Negative test; Sexual; Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT)