TY - JOUR
T1 - Addressing the slow uptake of HIV testing in Malawi
T2 - The role of stigma, self-efficacy, and knowledge in the Malawi BRIDGE project
AU - Berendes, Sima
AU - Rimal, Rajiv N.
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was made possible by the generous support from the United States Agency for International Development . The authors thank their colleagues Glory Mkandawire, Kirsten Böse, Jane Brown, and Lisa Folda at the Center for Communication Programs for their assistance in study design and/or data collection. They also thank Peter Roberts for his conceptualization of the Radio Diaries program, and their colleagues in Salephera Consulting, Ltd., in Lilongwe, Malawi, for their assistance in data collection.
PY - 2011/5
Y1 - 2011/5
N2 - This study was carried out to test the hypothesis that HIV-related stigma would function as a barrier to uptake of HIV testing and that knowledge and self-efficacy would serve as facilitators. We also hypothesized that exposure to a behavior-change campaign would be associated with lower levels of stigma and higher levels of knowledge and self-efficacy. We conducted two separate cross-sectional surveys as part of the Malawi BRIDGE Project, including one at baseline in eight districts (n = 891), and another at mid-term in four districts in Malawi (n = 881). HIV-related knowledge, self-efficacy, and lack of stigma were positively associated with HIV testing. A positive association was also found between program exposure, on one hand, and knowledge, self-efficacy, and lack of stigma, on the other. These findings suggest that important psychosocial variables are linked with people's likelihood of HIV testing, and that these variables may be influenced by behavior-change programs.
AB - This study was carried out to test the hypothesis that HIV-related stigma would function as a barrier to uptake of HIV testing and that knowledge and self-efficacy would serve as facilitators. We also hypothesized that exposure to a behavior-change campaign would be associated with lower levels of stigma and higher levels of knowledge and self-efficacy. We conducted two separate cross-sectional surveys as part of the Malawi BRIDGE Project, including one at baseline in eight districts (n = 891), and another at mid-term in four districts in Malawi (n = 881). HIV-related knowledge, self-efficacy, and lack of stigma were positively associated with HIV testing. A positive association was also found between program exposure, on one hand, and knowledge, self-efficacy, and lack of stigma, on the other. These findings suggest that important psychosocial variables are linked with people's likelihood of HIV testing, and that these variables may be influenced by behavior-change programs.
KW - Behavior-change program
KW - HIV
KW - HIV testing
KW - Self-efficacy
KW - Stigma
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jana.2010.08.005
DO - 10.1016/j.jana.2010.08.005
M3 - Article
C2 - 21185751
AN - SCOPUS:79954917224
SN - 1055-3290
VL - 22
SP - 215
EP - 228
JO - Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care
JF - Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care
IS - 3
ER -