There are multiple challenges to developing comprehensive HIV prevention programs in developing countries, including: (1) a general lack of consensus on the relative efficacy of interventions, (2) an ever changing and rapidly growing evidence base on intervention efficacy, and (3) a lack of shared standards and terminology for intervention approaches. There has also been a growing interest in promising intervention approaches that target structural and socio-ecological level factors, yet there is little shared theoretical understanding of what constitutes a """"""""structural intervention"""""""". As well, many scientific studies published in the peer reviewed literature use common terms for intervention approaches, yet often implement programs very differently. In this proposed study we will systematically review and meta-analyze the impact of 15 key HIV behavioral interventions, and conduct updates on systematic reviews and meta-analyses on 12 additional interventions we have done previously. In addition, intervention case studies will be initiated for those intervention topics listed above in which there is evidence of a lack of consistency across investigators in how they are defining and implementing the intervention. The interventions to be synthesized include: (1) Provider-Initiated HIV Testing and Counseling (PITC), (2) Drug Treatment, (3) Family Life Education, (4) Interpersonal Skills Training (Empowerment), (5) Behavioral Counseling, and (6) Diffusion &Opinion Leader, (7) Free Condom Distribution;(8) Income Generation, (9) Built Environment, (10) Policy Interventions, (11) Social Capital Enhancement, (12) Community Mobilization, (13) Interventions to Enhance Adherence to Antiretroviral Treatment (ART), (14) Interventions designed to Increase Uptake of AIDS Treatment, Mother to Child Transmission (MTCT) Programs, and HIV Testing, and (15) Interventions that Promote Serosorting, (16) Positive Prevention, (17) HIV Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT), (18) Peer Education , (19) Family Planning Counseling for HIV-infected Women, (20) Condom Social Marketing, (21) Mass Media, (22) Partner Notification, (23) Abstinence-based Interventions, (24) Needle and Syringe Programs (NSP), (25) Psychosocial Support, (26) Care as Prevention, and (27) Comprehensive School-based Sex Education.

Public Health Relevance

With the dramatic growth in funding for HIV behavioral interventions in developing countries there are multiple initiatives to better allocate of these funds based on evidenced-based standards. Comparative effectiveness studies have been requested by multiple donors and agencies to meet this need. This requires up to date systematic reviews and meta-analyses, as well as careful evaluation of the content of interventions. These will result in improved understanding of which intervention components are proven to be most efficacious, and will advance the field in establishing clear intervention terminology and theoretical constructs. The goal of this study is to provide needed policy and program advice on what is working in HIV prevention based on the strength of evidence from the scientific literature.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH090173-04
Application #
8414164
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-AARR-F (08))
Program Officer
Pequegnat, Willo
Project Start
2010-02-01
Project End
2015-01-31
Budget Start
2013-02-01
Budget End
2014-01-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$371,620
Indirect Cost
$98,889
Name
Medical University of South Carolina
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
183710748
City
Charleston
State
SC
Country
United States
Zip Code
29425
O'Reilly, Kevin R; d'Aquila, Erica; Fonner, Virginia et al. (2017) Can Policy Interventions Affect HIV-Related Behaviors? A Systematic Review of the Evidence from Low- and Middle-Income Countries. AIDS Behav 21:626-642
Kennedy, Caitlin E; Fonner, Virginia A; Armstrong, Kevin A et al. (2015) Increasing HIV serostatus disclosure in low and middle-income countries: a systematic review of intervention evaluations. AIDS 29 Suppl 1:S7-S23
Zajac, Kristyn; Kennedy, Caitlin E; Fonner, Virginia A et al. (2015) A Systematic Review of the Effects of Behavioral Counseling on Sexual Risk Behaviors and HIV/STI Prevalence in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. AIDS Behav 19:1178-202
Fonner, Virginia A; Armstrong, Kevin S; Kennedy, Caitlin E et al. (2014) School based sex education and HIV prevention in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One 9:e89692
O'Reilly, K R; Fonner, V A; Kennedy, C E et al. (2014) Free condom distribution: what we don't know may hurt us. AIDS Behav 18:2169-71
Fonner, Virginia A; Kennedy, Caitlin E; O'Reilly, Kevin R et al. (2014) Systematic assessment of condom use measurement in evaluation of HIV prevention interventions: need for standardization of measures. AIDS Behav 18:2374-86
Kennedy, Caitlin E; Fonner, Virginia A; O'Reilly, Kevin R et al. (2014) A systematic review of income generation interventions, including microfinance and vocational skills training, for HIV prevention. AIDS Care 26:659-73
Kennedy, Caitlin E; Fonner, Virginia A; Sweat, Michael D et al. (2013) Provider-initiated HIV testing and counseling in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review. AIDS Behav 17:1571-90
O'Reilly, Kevin R; Kennedy, Caitlin E; Fonner, Virginia A et al. (2013) Family planning counseling for women living with HIV: a systematic review of the evidence of effectiveness on contraceptive uptake and pregnancy incidence, 1990 to 2011. BMC Public Health 13:935
Sweat, Michael D; Denison, Julie; Kennedy, Caitlin et al. (2012) Effects of condom social marketing on condom use in developing countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis, 1990-2010. Bull World Health Organ 90:613-622A

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