Worldwide, it is estimated that more than 16 million children under 18 years have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS;over 14 million of these children live in sub-Saharan Africa. Among those at greatest risk of becoming HIV infected are adolescent orphan girls and young women. This study is a 2-year renewal of an R01 study, funded by NICHD in 2007 in response to PA-04-0115, Religious Organizations and HIV. The initial study was a rigorously implemented cluster randomized controlled trial, testing whether providing a comprehensive package of school fees, uniforms, and a school-based """"""""helper"""""""" can reduce school dropout, prevent HIV risk behaviors, and increase protective attitudes among adolescent orphan girls. We randomized primary schools to condition when participants were in grade 6 and compared outcomes after they entered high school, finding impressive reductions in school dropout and early marriage, and improvements on protective sexual and gender equity attitudes. As of 2011, most participants are in their 3rd year of high school in 5 Methodist and 5 public schools.
The Specific Aims for the renewal are as follows: 1) Using a delayed intervention control group design, compare posited mediators and outcomes between the comprehensive intervention group and the fees only control group for one additional survey data point, adding HIV and HSV-2 biomarker data;2) Using the 2011 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey data to form two external comparison groups (orphan and non-orphan rural girls of comparable age), examine differences in HIV status, marriage, school retention, and related outcomes between the DHS samples and our two study groups;3) Conduct a qualitative study of the circumstances and implications of early marriage among orphan girl participants, particularly the influence of the religious context of Apostolic versus mainline churches;and 4) Conduct updated comparative cost effectiveness analyses between E and C, specifying costs and return on investment, evidenced by cost per unit improvement in primary outcomes of educational attainment, marriage, and HIV/HSV-2 infection, as well as by gains in health-related quality of life. With information gained from these specific aims, we will partner with the Zimbabwe Ministries of Education and Health, PEPFAR officials, and major global donors to consider policy implications and develop a feasible plan for scale-up. Our study team is developing a unique knowledge base about orphan teens in sub-Saharan Africa. The addition of biomarker testing, the study of religious influence on early marriage;the use of DHS data for external comparison groups in a delayed intervention C group design, the cost effectiveness study, and the plan to engage policymakers, together greatly enhance study significance, innovation, and overall impact.

Public Health Relevance

Worldwide, it is estimated that more than 16 million children under 18 years have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS;over 14 million of these children live in sub-Saharan Africa. Adolescent orphan girls and young women are at great risk of becoming HIV infected themselves. This study will test the notion that keeping orphan adolescent girls in school can prevent HIV and HSV-2 infection by delaying marriage and early sexual behavior. The study will also contribute cost effectiveness analyses to inform policy.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01HD055838-05A1
Application #
8262916
Study Section
Behavioral and Social Science Approaches to Preventing HIV/AIDS Study Section (BSPH)
Program Officer
Newcomer, Susan
Project Start
2007-09-27
Project End
2013-06-30
Budget Start
2011-09-27
Budget End
2012-06-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$610,207
Indirect Cost
Name
Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation
Department
Type
DUNS #
021883350
City
Beltsville
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
20705
Luseno, Winnie Kavulani; Zhang, Lei; Iritani, Bonita J et al. (2017) Influence of school support on early marriage experiences and health services utilization among young orphaned women in Zimbabwe. Health Care Women Int 38:283-299
Iritani, Bonita J; Cho, Hyunsan; Rusakaniko, Simbarashe et al. (2016) Educational Outcomes for Orphan Girls in Rural Zimbabwe: Effects of a School Support Intervention. Health Care Women Int 37:301-22
Luseno, Winnie; Zhang, Lei; Rusakaniko, Simbarashe et al. (2015) HIV infection and related risk behaviors: does school support level the playing field between orphans and nonorphans in Zimbabwe? AIDS Care 27:1191-5
Hallfors, Denise Dion; Cho, Hyunsan; Rusakaniko, Simbarashe et al. (2015) The impact of school subsidies on HIV-related outcomes among adolescent female orphans. J Adolesc Health 56:79-84
Luseno, Winnie K; Hallfors, Denise Dion; Cho, Hyunsan et al. (2014) Use of HIV and HSV-2 biomarkers in sub-saharan adolescent prevention research: a comparison of two approaches. J Prim Prev 35:181-91
Mpofu, Elias; Hallfors, Denise Dion; Mutepfa, Magen Mhaka et al. (2014) A Mixed Methods Mapping of Church versus Secular School Messages to Influence Sexual Decision-Making as Perceived by Zimbabwean Orphan Girl Students. J Mix Methods Res 8:363-376
Hallfors, Denise D; Cho, Hyunsan; Iritani, Bonita J et al. (2013) Preventing HIV by providing support for orphan girls to stay in school: does religion matter? Ethn Health 18:53-65
Miller, Ted; Hallfors, Denise; Cho, Hyunsan et al. (2013) Cost-effectiveness of school support for orphan girls to prevent HIV infection in Zimbabwe. Prev Sci 14:503-12
Mpofu, Elias; Mutepfa, Magen Mhaka; Hallfors, Denise Dion (2012) Mapping structural influences on sex and HIV education in church and secular schools in Zimbabwe. Eval Health Prof 35:346-59
Hallfors, Denise; Cho, Hyunsan; Rusakaniko, Simbarashe et al. (2011) Supporting adolescent orphan girls to stay in school as HIV risk prevention: evidence from a randomized controlled trial in Zimbabwe. Am J Public Health 101:1082-8

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