Integrated gender-based violence and HIV risk reduction intervention for South African men: results of a quasi-experimental field trial

SOURCE: Prevention Science: The Official Journal of the Society for Prevention Research
OUTPUT TYPE: Journal Article
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2009
TITLE AUTHOR(S): S.C.Kalichman, L.C.Simbayi, A.Cloete, M.Clayford, W.Arnolds, M.Mxoli, G.Smith, C.Cherry, T.Shefer, M.Crawford, M.O.Kalichman
KEYWORDS: GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE, HIV/AIDS, HIV/AIDS PREVENTION, RISK BEHAVIOUR, VIOLENCE, WOMEN
DEPARTMENT: Public Health, Societies and Belonging (HSC)
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 5757
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/4940
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/4940

If you would like to obtain a copy of this Research Output, please contact Hanlie Baudin at researchoutputs@hsrc.ac.za.

Abstract

South Africa is in the midst of one of the world's most devastating HIV/AIDS epidemics and there is a well-documented association between violence against women and HIV transmission. Interventions that target men and integrate HIV prevention with gender-based violence prevention may demonstrate synergistic effects. A quasi-experimental field intervention trial was conducted with two communities randomly assigned to receive either: (a) a five session integrated intervention designed to simultaneously reduce gender-based violence (GBV) and HIV risk behaviors (N = 242) or (b) a single 3-hour alcohol and HIV risk reduction session (N = 233). Men were followed for 1-, 3-, and 6-months post intervention with 90% retention. Results indicated that the GBV/HIV intervention reduced negative attitudes toward women in the short term and reduced violence against women in the longer term. Men in the GBV/HIV intervention also increased their talking with sex partners about condoms and were more likely to have been tested for HIV at the follow-ups. There were few differences between conditions on any HIV transmission risk reduction behavioral outcomes. Further research is needed to examine the potential synergistic effects of alcohol use, gender violence, and HIV prevention interventions.