Impacts of four communication programs on HIV testing behavior in South Africa

This paper aims to evaluate the impacts of four communication programs on promoting HIV testing behavior among sexually active individuals in South Africa. The four programs, implemented by Johns Hopkins Health and Education in South Africa, are aimed to promote HIV prevention behaviors, as well as gender-based violence prevention, tuberculosis screening and treatment, and reduction of alcohol consumption. Launched between 2009 and 2010, they all promoted HIV testing. Data came from the population-based Third National AIDS Communication Survey 2012; 6004 men and women who had sex within the last 12 months were included in the analysis. Multiple causal attribution analysis is used to justify causal reference and estimate the impact of communication programs. Findings indicate significant direct and indirect effects of the programs on HIV testing behavior. Indirect effects worked through increasing one's likelihood of perceiving that their friends were tested and the probability of talking about HIV testing with sex partners and friends, which in turn increased the likelihood of HIV testing. Findings suggest multiple angles from which communication programs can promote HIV testing. The study also demonstrates the use of multiple statistical techniques for causal attribution in a post-only design, where randomization is not possible

Biology · Environmental health · Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV · Focus Groups and Qualitative Methods · HIV/AIDS Impact and Responses · Media Studies and Communication · Medicine · Psychology · Virology

• Determinants of Knowledge of HIV Status in Cambodia

  Open Access•Karl Peltzer, Pengpid et al.•Journal of Human Ecology•2014

  Incluir item

• Regarding realities

  Open Access•Emily S Holman, C Harbour et al.•Global Public Health•2016

  Incluir item

• Actual Versus Perceived HIV Testing Norms, and Personal HIV Testing Uptake

  Open Access•Jessica M Perkins, Viola N Nyakato et al.•AIDS and Behavior•2017

  Incluir item

• Internet access, beliefs about HIV transmission and HIV–Aids testing among women in Cameroon

  Mathieu Juliot Mpabe Bodjongo•Review of Social Economy•2023

  Incluir item

• Perceived barriers and facilitators to HIV testing in South African communities

  Open Access•Henri De Wet, Ashraf Kagee•Journal of Health Psychology•2018

  Incluir item

• Systematic review of the effectiveness of mass communication programs to change HIV/Aids-related behaviors in developing countries

  J T Bertrand•Health Education Research•2005

  Incluir item

• A 10-Year Systematic Review of HIV/Aids Mass Communication Campaigns

  Seth M Noar, Philip Palmgreen et al.•Journal of Health Communication•2009

  Incluir item

• The theory of planned behavior

  Open Access•Icek Ajzen•Organizational Behavior and Human…•1991

  Incluir item

• Personal Influence

  Elihu Katz, Paul F Lazarsfeld•Personal Influence•2017

  Incluir item

• Sexual health promotion in Chennai, India

  Open Access•Sudha Sivaram, Sethulakshmi C Johnson et al.•Health Promotion International•2005

  Incluir item

• The Role of Interpersonal Communication in Reducing Structural Disparities and Psychosocial Deficiencies

  Open Access•R N Rimal, Rupali J Limaye et al.•Journal of Communication•2013

  Incluir item

• The Spiral of Silence a Theory of Public Opinion

  Open Access•Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann•Journal of Communication•1974

  Incluir item

• Social Comparison

  Open Access•Jerry Suls, René Martin et al.•Current Directions in Psychological…•2002

  Incluir item

• Factors associated with HIV testing among sexually active South African youth aged 15–24 years

  Catherine Macphail, Audrey Pettifor et al.•AIDS Care•2009

  Incluir item

• Voluntary counseling and HIV testing for pregnant women in the Kassena-Nankana district of northern Ghana

  Frank Baiden, Pieter Remes et al.•AIDS Care•2005

  Incluir item

• Factors associated with self-reported HIV testing among men in Uganda

  Anastasia J Gage, D Ali et al.•AIDS Care•2005

  Incluir item

• Public Communication Campaigns

  Ronald E Rice, Charles K Atkin•Public communication campaigns•2013

  Incluir item

• Assessing effects of a media campaign on HIV/Aids awareness and prevention in Nigeria

  Open Access•Joseph Keating, Dominique Meekers et al.•BMC Public Health•2006

  Incluir item

• Keep Talking About It

  Open Access•Ellen Setsuko Hendriksen, Ellen Hendriksen et al.•AIDS and Behavior•2009

  Incluir item

• Readiness for HIV Testing among Young People in Northern Nigeria

  Open Access•Stella Babalola•AIDS and Behavior•2006

  Incluir item

• The Theory of Public Opinion

  Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann•Annals of the International…•1991

  Incluir item

• New Methods for Estimating the Impact of Health Communication Programs

  Stella Babalola, D Lawrence Kincaid•Communication Methods and Measures•2009

  Incluir item

• A Theory of Social Comparison Processes

  Open Access•Leon Festinger•Human Relations•1954

  Incluir item

• Social networks, ideation, and contraceptive behavior in Bangladesh

  Open Access•D Lawrence Kincaid•Social Science & Medicine•2000

  Incluir item

• The Spiral of Silence

  Carroll J Glynn, Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann•Social Forces•1986

  Incluir item

• Rumor and gossip

  Laura C Smith, Laura Smith et al.•Anthropology and Medicine•1999

  Incluir item