|
|
|
|
| |
The NIMH Collaborative
HIV/STD Prevention Trial was a collective effort between six
countries to determine the efficacy of a community-based HIV
prevention intervention. This intervention sought to identify
representatives in the community called as community popular
opinion leaders (CPOLs) who would in turn, spread the prevention
message among their social group.
The key and novel approach in
this intervention was in identifying social networks or naturally
occurring social groups in the community. Then, appropriate
representatives from these networks were recruited as CPOLs
and trained to conduct prevention education. The intervention
was implemented in slum communities in Chennai. As this was
a diverse community, the trial was conducted first as ethnographic
studies to identify networks in the community. These studies
helped finding appropriate methods of identifying and recruiting
CPOLs. The studies also helped to understand cultural practices
and beliefs related to HIV prevention and transmission.
With this knowledge and input from the community the intervention
were designed. This intervention was expected to strengthen
norms about safer sexual behavior and encourage risk reduction
in the communities. Assessments were conducted by surveys
and collection of biological specimens at baseline and at
the end of the project were made. The efficacy of the intervention
were determined by examining change in risk behaviors and
HIV/STD incidence in Chennai and other countries. The intervention
was for five years in duration from 2000 to 2005. |
|
|
 |
|
|
|