HIV and religion in the Congo: a mixed-methods study.

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Religious Studies

Background:

• Sub-Saharan Africa faces a high burden of HIV infection.
• Understanding socio-cultural factors, including religious affiliation, is crucial for effective HIV prevention.
• War-torn regions present unique challenges for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between religious affiliation and HIV infection.
• To identify risk factors for HIV seropositivity in a conflict-affected area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Main Methods:

• Mixed-methods approach combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews.
• Voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) clinic attendees in Butembo, DRC, completed questionnaires and HIV testing.
• Key informant interviews were conducted to supplement quantitative findings.

Main Results:

• Out of 380 participants, 7.4% tested positive for HIV.
• Catholic affiliation (adjusted OR 2.7) was an independent risk factor for HIV seropositivity.
• Higher church attendance correlated with decreased condom use across religious groups.

Conclusions:

• Catholic religious affiliation was associated with increased HIV risk in this Eastern DRC population.
• Interfaith dialogue between healthcare professionals and religious leaders is recommended to enhance HIV prevention efforts in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).