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After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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A Community-Based Study to Examine the Effect of a Youth HIV Prevention Intervention on Young People Aged 15-24 in South Africa

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Affiliation
Reproductive Health Research Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gyneacology, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA, Medical Research Council, South Africa, Development Research Africa, Durban, South Africa, Contract Laboratory Services, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, Center for Reproductive Health Research & Policy, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA and AIDS Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
Summary

Summary

The objective of the study was to determine whether South African youths living in communities that had either of two youth human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention interventions [(a) loveLife Youth Centre or (b) loveLife National Adolescent Friendly Clinic Initiative] would have a lower prevalence of HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and high risk sexual behaviours than communities without either of these interventions.

In 2002 the baseline survey of a quasi-experimental, community-based study was conducted in South Africa. In total 33 communities were included in three study arms (11 communities per study arm). The final sample included 8735 youths aged 15¨C24 years. All participants took part in a behavioural interview and were tested for HIV, gonorrhoea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae) and Chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis).


HIV prevalence was 20.0% among females and 7.5% among males (OR 3.93 95% CI 2.51¨C6.15). There were no significant differences between study arms for HIV, NG or CT prevalence at baseline. In multiple regression analyses, HIV was significantly associated with NG infection (OR 1.96 95% CI 1.24¨C3.12) but not with CT infection. Youths who reported >1 lifetime partner were also significantly more likely to be infected with HIV (OR 1.98 95% CI 1.55¨C2.52), as were those who reported ever having engaged in transactional sex (OR 1.86 P = 0.02) or having had genital ulcers in the past 12 months (OR 1.71 P ¡Ü 0.001).


HIV prevention programmes must ensure that gender inequities that place young women at greater risk for HIV infection are urgently addressed and they must continue to emphasize the importance of reducing the number of sexual partners and STI treatment.

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Source

Blackwell-Synergy November 28 2005.