Results from a cluster-randomized trial to evaluate a microfinance and peer health leadership intervention to prevent HIV and intimate partner violence among social networks of Tanzanian men

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230371
• Publication Date: 2020-03-20T17:45:02Z
• Authors: Suzanne Maman; Marta I. Mulawa; Peter Balvanz; H. Luz McNaughton...; Mrema N. Kilonzo; Thespina J. Yamanis; Basant Singh; Lusajo J. Kajula
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Adolescent; Science; Intimate Partner Violence; HIV Infections; Tanzania; Social Networking; Young Adult; 03 medical and health sciences; Risk-Taking; 0302 clinical medicine; 5. Gender equality; Prevalence; Humans; Peer Influence; 10. No inequality; Q; R; 1. No poverty; 3. Good health; Leadership; Sexual Partners; Treatment Outcome; Attitude; Medicine; Research Article; Follow-Up Studies

Despite calls to engage men in HIV and intimate partner violence (IPV) prevention efforts, effective approaches reach low-resource, high-HIV prevalence settings are limited. We identified engaged social networks of mostly young a study designed evaluate the efficacy combined microfinance peer health leadership intervention prevent IPV. conducted cluster-randomized trial among 60 locally referred as "camps" within Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Camps were randomly assigned (1:1) or control condition that received brief delayed after study's conclusion. Allocation was not masked participants researchers. Behavioral assessments at baseline 30-months post-intervention launch, with biological samples drawn test for sexually-transmitted infections (STIs). Primary outcomes included STIs past-year IPV perpetration. Secondary STI sexual risk behaviors testing. Proximal targets inequitable gender norm attitudes hope. A modified Poisson regression approach used estimate intention-to-treat effects on assessed 30-month follow-up. enrolled 1,258 camps. Of these men, 1,029 (81.8%) completed There no differences by prevalence, perpetration, Intervention reported greater levels testing, controlling testing (aRR 1.13 95% CI 1.005–1.28). They also significantly lower (adjusted effect -0.11, -0.21–0.003). successfully retained this multilevel study. While we did see an primary outcomes, our improved reduced attitudes.