TheEmpower Nudgelottery to increase dual protection use

A proof-of-concept randomised pilot trial in South Africa

Bibliographic Data

ID3972906
AuthorsOmar Galárraga (0000-0002-9985-9266, Associate Professor, Department of Health Services, Policy and Practice, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA; Faculty Associate, Population Studies and Training Center (PSTC), Brown University, Providence, RI, USA, corresponding author), John Harries (0000-0001-7359-8419, University of Cape Town), Jane Harries (Director, Women’s Health Research Unit; and Associate Professor, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa), Brendan Maughan-Brown (0000-0002-7606-8744, Senior Research Officer, Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa), Diane Cooper (0000-0001-5306-9640, Professor, School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa; Adjunct Faculty Women’s Health Research Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa), E Short (0000-0001-8954-3068, Director, Population Studies and Training Center (PSTC); and Professor, Department of Sociology, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA), Susan E Short, Mark N Lurie (0000-0002-3153-1715, Faculty Associate, Population Studies and Training Center (PSTC), Brown University, Providence, RI, USA), Anna Harrison (0000-0002-1673-8486, Brown University), Abigail Harrison (0000-0003-1938-5513, Faculty Associate, Population Studies and Training Center (PSTC), Brown University, Providence, RI, USA)
Year2018
Volume26
Issue52
Pages67-80
Publication date2018-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueReproductive Health Matters (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0968-8080 • E-ISSN: 1460-9576
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09688080.2018.1510701
PMID30212281
OpenAlexW2890415203
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited36

The objective of this study is to measure the preliminary efficacy of a pilot intervention, grounded in behavioural economics, increasing adherence of dual protection (simultaneous use of effective modern contraception and a barrier method, such as a condom) to protect against HIV, other sexually transmitted infections, and unintended pregnancy. Between 2015 and 2016, 100 women aged 18-40 years, seeking post-abortion care in Cape Town, South Africa were recruited to Empower Nudge, a randomised controlled trial to test a lottery incentive intervention designed to increase dual protection. At baseline, the mean age of participants was 27 years; 82% of them were from South Africa; 58% self-identified as Black African; average education completed was 11.7 years. At three months, assignment to the lottery intervention was associated with higher odds of returning for study visits (OR: 6.0; 95%CI: 2.45 to 14.7, p < 0.01), higher condom use (OR: 4.5; 95%CI: 1.43 to 14.1; p < 0.05), and higher use of dual protection (OR: 3.16; 95%CI: 1.01 to 9.9; p < 0.05). Only 60% of the study population returned after three months and only 38% returned after six months. Women who receive post-abortion care represent a neglected population with an urgent need for HIV and pregnancy prevention. Dual protection is a critically important strategy for this population. Lottery-based behavioural economics strategies may offer possible ways to increase dual protection use in this population. Further research with larger samples, longer exposure time, and more sites is needed to establish fully powered efficacy of lottery incentives for dual protection; using objective verification for monitoring

Condom · Environmental health · Family medicine · Lottery · Odds · Population · Randomized controlled trial · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Demography · Global Maternal and Child Health · Medicine · Nursing · Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare · Surgery