Applying social, behavioral and evaluation research to developing country HIV prevention programs

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Social Sciences
• Behavioral Sciences

Background:

• A 6-year global human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention program operated in 45 developing countries.
• The program aimed to integrate social, behavioral, and evaluation research into its strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the role and impact of social, behavioral, and evaluation research within a large-scale global HIV prevention initiative.
• To assess how research findings influenced program interventions and outcomes across diverse settings.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive review of project databases, including 320 research abstracts and 591 subproject abstracts.
• Online literature searches of peer-reviewed publications and a hand review of 390 final project reports and country evaluations.
• Utilized diverse research designs: descriptive, correlational, ethnographic, survey, quasi-experimental, and experimental.

Main Results:

• Over 400 studies were conducted, encompassing program-related research, controlled interventions, and grants to advance HIV prevention science.
• Qualitative methodologies, rapid ethnographic assessments, behavioral surveillance surveys, and targeted interventions were employed.
• Intervention studies and evaluations in 19 countries showed positive changes in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among target groups.
• Triangulation of data sources and reliance on behavioral surveillance mitigated methodological challenges.

Conclusions:

• Integrating research with program interventions is essential for effective HIV prevention.
• Operationalizing the seamless link between research and program implementation presents a significant ongoing challenge.