Use of Western-based HIV risk-reduction interventions targeting adolescents in an African setting.

PURPOSE: To evaluate an intervention (based on one which had previously been successful in reducing adolescent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk behaviors in the United States) among adolescents residing in Namibia, a country located in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: A randomized trial of a 14-session face-to-face intervention emphasizing abstinence and safer sex was conducted among 515 youth (median age 17 years; median grade 11) attending 10 secondary schools located in two districts in Namibia. Knowledge, attitudes, intentions, and HIV risk behaviors were assessed at baseline and in the immediate postintervention period. RESULTS: Knowledge increased significantly among intervention compared to control youth (88% vs. 82%; correct responses, p < .0001). At postintervention follow-up, more intervention than control youth believed that they could be intimate without having sex, could have a girlfriend or boyfriend for a long time without having sex, could explain the process of impregnation, knew how to use a condom, and could ask for condoms in a clinic. Fewer intervention than control youth believed that if a girl refused to have sex with her boyfriend it was permissible for him to strike her, and that condoms took away a boy's pleasure. More intervention than control youth anticipated using a condom when they did have sex, and fewer expected to drink alcohol. Finally, after intervention, there was a trend for increased condom use. There were significant gender-related differences at baseline, although intervention impact was generally equivalent. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide support for the judicious adaptation of successful Western HIV prevention programs in other cultural settings. A single intervention approach appears to be effective in short-term follow-up with both genders.

HIV risk behaviors, intentions, and perceptions among Namibian youth as assessed by a theory-based questionnaire.

Considerable progress has been made in the United States and Europe regarding HIV risk prevention efforts targeting adolescents. However, in Africa less progress has been made to date. This article address three questions: Can risk assessment questionnaires developed in Western countries be modified so as to be appropriate for use in African countries? Are social cognitive models appropriate in African settings? Does covariation among risk behaviors occur among youth residing in African countries? The data was obtained from a cross-sectional survey conducted among 922 youth ages 12 to 18 years living in school-based hostels in Namibia. Data were collected using a theory-based risk assessment questionnaire. One third of the youth were sexually experienced, three quarters of whom had engaged in sexual intercourse in the previous 6 months. Over one third of these youth had had more that one sexual partner in the previous 6 months and over one half had not used a condom at last episode of intercourse. The psychometric properties of the questionnaire and the relationship between perceptions and behaviors provide evidence that theory-based questionnaires developed in Western countries can be modified for use in different cultural settings. The data also provide strong evidence of covariation between risk behaviors among Namibian youth.

PIP: Findings are presented from an investigation into whether risk assessment questionnaires developed in Western countries can be modified to be used appropriately in African countries. The authors also explored whether covariation among risk behaviors occurs among youth living in African countries. Data were obtained from a cross-sectional survey conducted among 922 individuals aged 12-18 years, of median age 15 years, living in school-based hostels in Namibia. 49% of the subjects were male. 37% overall and 56% of the boys had ever had sexual intercourse, of whom 70% had experienced such intercourse during the preceding 6 months. 29% of those who were sexually experienced reported having more than 1 sex partner in the previous 6 months and 50% used a condom during their most recent intercourse. Study findings suggest that theory-based questionnaires developed in Western countries can be modified for use in different cultural settings. Study data also provide strong evidence of covariation between risk behaviors among Namibian youth.

Increased protected sex and abstinence among Namibian youth following a HIV risk-reduction intervention: a randomized, longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate an HIV risk-reduction intervention among Namibian adolescents. METHODS: A randomized trial of a 14-session face-to-face intervention emphasizing abstinence and safer sexual practices conducted among 515 youths (median age 17 years and median grade 11) attending 10 secondary schools located in two districts in Namibia. Youths were randomly assigned to the intervention or control condition at the level of the individual. HIV risk behaviours, intentions and perceptions were assessed at baseline, immediately post-intervention and at 6 and 12 months post-intervention. RESULTS: Among all 515 youths who enrolled in the programme, rates of either abstinence or sex with a condom were not different between control and intervention youths at baseline or in the follow-up period. However, analyses conducted among the subset of youths who were sexually inexperienced at baseline (n = 255) revealed that a higher percentage of intervention youths (17%) than control youths (9%, P<0.05) remained sexually inexperienced one year later. Moreover, in the immediate post-intervention period, among baseline virgins who subsequently initiated sex, intervention youths were more likely than control youths to use a condom (18 versus 10%, P<0.05). Additional HIV-related risk behaviours (failure to discuss previous HIV risk exposure with one's sexual partner and alcohol use), intentions to use condoms, and perceptions of the ability to use condoms were positively affected by the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: There is evidence that the 'My Future is My Choice' (MFMC) intervention is reducing HIV risk behaviours among sexually inexperienced participants aged 15-18. Related risk behaviours and perceptions are also positively impacted by the intervention.

Diarrhoea and mortality in Menoufia, Egypt.

From 1982 the Ministry of Health of Egypt implemented the National Control of Diarrhoeal Diseases Project (NCDDP) which attempted to improve case management of childhood diarrhoea by making oral rehydration salts (ORS) widely available and used, to improve feeding patterns during diarrhoea, and other measures. National data indicate a high level of success in achieving the targets. However, impact evaluation is hampered by weak national baseline information available prior to NCDDP on case management of diarrhoea and causes of infant and childhood mortality. A study in Menoufia Governorate in 1979-80 obtained such information. Consequently, in 1988 the area was revisited to examine subsequent changes. Findings showed marked improvement in case management of diarrhoea and rapid mortality decline, with diarrhoeal mortality apparently declining somewhat faster than mortality from other causes.

PIP: The Ministry of Health (MOH) of Egypt has done much for more than a decade to control diarrheal disease (CDD). Oral rehydration salts (ORS) have been distributed since 1978, and the National Control of Diarrheal Diseases Project (NCDDP) was launched in 1982. Full CDD measures in place since 1984 have expanded the use of ORS to treat diarrhea, and have resulted in lower levels of infant and child mortality across the country. Impact evaluation is, however, hampered by weak national baseline data. At the national level, information on the cause of death in the vital register is not considered reliable. Second, there is little data on the case management of diarrhea before the initiation of the NCDDP. These issues were addressed in some sample villages in Dakahlia Governorate, where increases in knowledge and the use of ORS between 1980 and 1986 were associated with a decrease in diarrheal mortality. A potentially comparable situation existed in Menoufia Governorate, where the effect of a program of home distribution of ORS on mortality was evaluated in 12 villages in 1979-80. This paper reports findings from a return visit to the villages in 1988 to compare the current treatment of diarrheal diseases and mortality patterns against conditions at baseline. The authors report marked improvement in the case management of diarrhea and rapid mortality decline, with diarrheal mortality apparently declining somewhat faster than mortality from other causes.

An instrument to assess acute respiratory infection case management in Egypt.

UNLABELLED: To develop an instrument to measure the quality of acute respiratory infection (ARI) case management among Egyptian children. METHODS: A baseline survey of all health facilities in a single district, using a multi-data source instrument. Data sources included providers, caretakers, patient records and observation of patient care. MAIN RESULTS: Physicians did not count the respiratory rate and check for subcostal retraction. Eighty-seven per cent of children who did not require antibiotics received them. Of five children who required antibiotics, four (80%) were prescribed an oral regimen. Three of these should have been admitted to a hospital but were not. Antibiotics were available at the facilities an estimated 7.9 months per year. Oxygen for inpatient treatment was available in one of two hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: This instrument was useful for comprehensively evaluating facility capability to provide quality case management. Deficiencies were identified but were not unexpected in a baseline survey. The Egypt ARI program has the potential to have a substantial impact on how children with ARI are diagnosed and treated in health facilities.

PIP: An instrument consisting of 10 questionnaires was developed to assess the ability of facilities to implement acute respiratory infection (ARI) case management guidelines. Data sources included interviews with physicians, nurses and area pharmacists; observation of patient care; review of patient records and an inventory of supplies. All 21 outpatient and two inpatient health facilities as well as 20 of 28 pharmacies in the district were included in the study. Of 93 child assessments observed, physicians asked the age for only 38 (41%). No child was questioned on ability to drink or experience of seizures. In addition, no physician checked for stridor, wheeze or chest indrawing, or counted the respiratory rate. 81 of 93 (87%) children with ARI were prescribed antibiotics. Among the 88 children assessed as not requiring antibiotics, 77 (88%) received them. Five children (2 pneumonia, 2 severe pneumonia, and 1 very severe disease) were determined to require antibiotics; four were prescribed an oral regimen. Of the four children that both required antibiotics and received them, three should have been admitted to the hospital for parenteral antibiotics, but were not. A variety of prescribed antibiotics were used among the 77 children. 27 (35%) children received two or three antibiotics without specifying the dose, frequency or duration on the prescription. Only two physicians mentioned the antibiotic dosage schedule for home care to the mother. Physicians at each of the outpatient facilities estimated the mean availability of antibiotics at 7.9 +or- 3.9 months. Three facilities (14%) had ampicillin suspension, none had amoxicillin and two (9%) had cotrimoxazole for the treatment of outpatient pneumonia. 19 (90%) had aspirin. Oxygen was available for inpatient care for children with pneumonia in one of the two hospitals, no nebulizers were available for treatment of wheezing, and disposable syringes were available in only one hospital. Parenteral bronchodilators were available in both, oral in neither. This instrument was useful for comprehensively evaluating facility capability to provide quality case management in the Egyptian ARI program.