Reported reasons for non-use of insecticide-treated nets in large national household surveys, 2009-2021.

Background: Insecticide-treated nets (ITN) are the cornerstone of modern malaria vector control, with nearly 3 billion ITNs delivered to households in endemic areas since 2000. ITN access, i.e.

Ideational factors associated with consistent use of insecticide-treated nets: a multi-country, multilevel analysis.

Background: Malaria remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Using insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) every night, year-round is critical to maximize protection against malaria. This study describes sociodemographic, psychosocial, and household factors associated with consistent ITN use in Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone.

Community Mobilization is Associated with HIV Testing Behaviors and Their Psychosocial Antecedents Among Zambian Adults: Results from a Population-Based Study.

Community mobilization (CM) is a vital yet under-explored avenue for increasing HIV testing in generalized HIV epidemic settings. Using multi-stage cluster sampling, a population-based sample of 3535 Zambian adults (mean age: 28 years, 50% women) were recruited from 14 districts to complete a household survey. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to re-validate a 23-item, 5-factor CM scale.

Ideational factors associated with net care behaviour: a multi-country analysis.

Background: Malaria is endemic to sub-Saharan African countries. Mass and routine distribution, promotion, and use of ITNs are critical components of malaria prevention programmes. Correct and consistent use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITN) is an effective strategy for malaria prevention.

Barriers, benefits, and behaviour: Voluntary medical male circumcision ideation in a population-based sample of Zambian men.

Reaching ambitious voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) coverage targets requires a deeper understanding of the multifaceted processes shaping men's willingness to access VMMC. Guided by the Ideation Model for Health Communication, this population-based study identifies correlates of Zambian men's future VMMC intentions. Multistage cluster sampling was used to identify households with adult men in 14 districts.

Use of short message service for monitoring Zika-related behaviors in four Latin American countries: lessons learned from the field.

Background: Effective response to widespread epidemics relies in part on rapidly changing information from affected communities as individuals react to emergency response efforts. The short message service (SMS) approach was used to monitor knowledge, prevention, and behavior during an outbreak of Zika cases in Honduras, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, and Guatemala in 2017. SMS methods supported collection of monitoring data at a time of heightened reliance on communication via mobile phones, and when the use of phones for epidemic-related communication was amplified.

Alcohol Consumption and Risky Sexual Behavior Among Persons Attending Alcohol Consumption Venues in Gaborone, Botswana.

Alcohol use is a known key risk factor associated with risky sexual behavior that contributes to HIV transmission. This cross-sectional study used time location sampling to investigate alcohol use and risky sexual behaviors that occurred after ingesting alcohol among 609 patrons of alcohol venues in Gaborone, Botswana. Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scores were categorized as low (1-7), medium (8-15), and high (16+) for analysis.

Treatment perceptions and attitudes of older human immunodeficiency virus-infected adults.

Objective: To apply the Health Belief Model (HBM) in assessing the association of health beliefs, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, alternative therapy use, and sexual risk behaviors in relation to the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in a group of older HIV-infected patients.

Methods: A convenience sample of 100 older (50 years and above) HIV-infected patients in 2 Washington, DC, clinics was enrolled. A cross-sectional methodology used structured interviews to investigate the association among antiretroviral adherence, use of alternative therapies, treatment perceptions, and risk behaviors.

HIV knowledge and sexual risk behaviors of street children in Takoradi, Ghana.

A pilot survey was conducted among 100 street children aged 11-19 years and data collected regarding HIV knowledge, risk behaviors, home and sexual experiences, and factors that contributed to their relocation to the street environment. Data indicated that 80% of the street children had at least minimal knowledge of HIV and 54% perceived themselves to be at risk for contracting HIV. More than three-fourths of the females, and over half of the boys reported ever having sex.