TY - JOUR
T1 - Local residents trained as 'influence agents' most effective in persuading african couples on HIV counseling and testing
AU - Lambdin, Barrot Hopkins
AU - Kanweka, William
AU - Inambao, Mubiana
AU - Mwananyanda, Lawrence
AU - Shah, Heena Dinesh
AU - Linton, Sabriya
AU - Wong, Frank
AU - Luisi, Nicole
AU - Tichacek, Amanda
AU - Kalowa, James
PY - 2011/8
Y1 - 2011/8
N2 - Couples in sub-Saharan Africa are the largest group in the world at risk for HIV infection. Couples counseling and testing programs have been shown to reduce HIV transmission, but such programs remain rare in Africa. Before couples counseling and testing can become the norm, it is essential to increase demand for the services. We evaluated the effectiveness of several promotional strategies during a two-year program in Kitwe and Ndola, Zambia. The program attracted more than 7,600 couples through the use of radio broadcasts, billboards, and other strategies. The most effective recruiting technique was the use of local residents trained as "influence agents" to reach out to friends, neighbors, and others in their sphere of influence.
AB - Couples in sub-Saharan Africa are the largest group in the world at risk for HIV infection. Couples counseling and testing programs have been shown to reduce HIV transmission, but such programs remain rare in Africa. Before couples counseling and testing can become the norm, it is essential to increase demand for the services. We evaluated the effectiveness of several promotional strategies during a two-year program in Kitwe and Ndola, Zambia. The program attracted more than 7,600 couples through the use of radio broadcasts, billboards, and other strategies. The most effective recruiting technique was the use of local residents trained as "influence agents" to reach out to friends, neighbors, and others in their sphere of influence.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84855184385&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1377/hlthaff.2009.0994
DO - 10.1377/hlthaff.2009.0994
M3 - Article
C2 - 21821565
AN - SCOPUS:84855184385
VL - 30
SP - 1488
EP - 1497
JO - Health Affairs
JF - Health Affairs
SN - 0278-2715
IS - 8
ER -