Behavior change communication and mobile populations: the evaluation of a cross-border HIV/AIDS communication strategy amongst migrants from Swaziland

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the effect of being exposed to the Soul City Southern Africa Regional OneLove campaign, a behavior change communication program, on sexual behavior and condom use among a mobile population in Swaziland. Data for this study come from a nationally representative sample of 845 individuals who reported traveling to neighboring countries for at least two weeks at any time in the previous two years. Respondents were asked about exposure to the campaign through television, radio, booklets, posters, and advertisements both in Swaziland and in the other countries where they had traveled in the previous two years. Odds ratios were used to estimate the relationships between the HIV/AIDS outcomes of interest and program exposure for the full sample as well as separately for males and females. The program had no effect on reducing known risky behaviors such as having multiple sexual partners. However, men exposed in Swaziland only (AOR = 3.4, CI 1.2–9.4) and in Swaziland and another country (AOR = 2.8, CI 1.0–7.7) were more likely to report using a condom at last sex. In the full sample, those exposed in Swaziland were more likely to report using a condom at last sex (AOR = 2.6, CI 1.3–5.3) and a condom at last sex with a regular partner (AOR = 2.3, CI 1.1–4.8). Men who reported multiple sexual partnerships and who were exposed in Swaziland and another country were nine times as likely to report condom at last sex than men with no exposure. Respondents exposed in Swaziland and another country were more likely to have been tested for HIV; this was true for the total population (AOR = 2.9, CI 1.1–7.9) and for men separately (AOR = 3.3, CI 1.1–10.1). These findings provide support for more regional HIV prevention programs in Southern Africa as a way to increase positive behaviors among mobile populations.

KEYWORDS:

• HIV prevention
• Southern Africa
• behavior change communication
• migration
• condom use
• HIV testing

Acknowledgements

This work, which was part of the “Evaluation of Southern African Regional Social and Behavior Change Communication Program”, was supported by DfID Accountable Grant 202294-101 and Soul City Registration No. 1995 10944/08. We express gratitude to all who were part of the design, implementation, and analysis of this evaluation. The authors report no conflict of interest.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.