NIMH Project Accept (HPTN 043): results from in-depth interviews with a longitudinal cohort of community members

SOURCE: PLoS One
OUTPUT TYPE: Journal Article
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2014
TITLE AUTHOR(S): S.Maman, H.Van Rooyen, P.Stankard, A.Chingono, T.Muravha, J.Ntogwisangu, Z.Phakathi, N.Srirak, S.F.Morin, NIMH Project Accept (HPTN 043) Study Team
KEYWORDS: HIV TESTING AND COUNSELLING (HTC), HIV/AIDS, PROJECT ACCEPT
DEPARTMENT: Public Health, Societies and Belonging (HSC)
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 8041
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/2674
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/2674

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Abstract

Introduction: NIMH Project Accept (HPTN 043) is a community-randomized trial to test the safety and efficacy of a community-level intervention designed to increase testing and lower HIV incidence in Tanzania, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Thailand. The evaluation design included a longitudinal study with community members to assess attitudinal and behavioral changes in study outcomes including HIV testing norms, HIV-related discussions, and HIV-related stigma. Methods: A cohort of 657 individuals across all sites was selected to participate in a qualitative study that involved 4 interviews during the study period. Baseline and 30-month data were summarized according to each outcome, and a qualitative assessment of changes was made at the community level over time. Results: Members from intervention communities described fewer barriers and greater motivation for testing than those from comparison communities. HIV-related discussions in intervention communities were more grounded in personal testing experiences. A change in HIV-related stigma over time was most pronounced in Tanzania and Zimbabwe. Participants in the intervention communities from these two sites attributed community-level changes in attitudes to project specific activities. Discussion: The Project Accept intervention was associated with more favorable social norms regarding HIV testing, more personal content in HIV discussions in all study sites, and qualitative changes in HIV-related stigma in two of five sites.