HIV/AIDS/STD prevention intervention messages: An evaluation of the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of a rural South African sample

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate HIV/AIDS/STD prevention intervention messages on a rural adult (25-49 years) sample in South Africa over a period of 15 months. A representative community sample of 398 adults at time 1 and 382 at time 2 (25-49 years) participated in the study using a three-stage cluster sampling method for a household survey, and qualitative data were obtained from adults using 10 at time 1- and 7 at time 2 focus group discussions. Results show that over a period of 15 months sexual risk behaviour reduced (multiple partners), the number of sexually transmitted symptoms reduced and attitudes towards Persons Living With HIV/AIDS (PWLAs) improved partly due to community and mass media interventions and partly determined by the high level of mortality experienced the studied communities.

Key words: HIV prevention intervention, evaluation, adults, rural community, South Africa.

AJPHERD Vol.11(1) 2005: 33-49