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Participatory Learning - 33% Reduction in the Incidence of HSV-2

Strategy researched HIV prevention and sexual health improvement intervention using participatory learning approaches to build knowledge, risk awareness, and communication skills and to stimulate critical reflection Impact achieved Stepping Stones was associated with a reduction of about 33% in the incidence of herpes simplex virus (HSV-2) (adjusted incidence rate ratio 0.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.46-0.97; P=0.036) - that is, it reduced the number of new HSV-2 infections over a 2-year period by 34.9 (95% CI 1.6-68.2) per 1,000 people exposed. However, there was no evidence that Stepping Stones lowered the incidence of HIV (adjusted incidence rate ratio 0.95, 95% CI 0.67-1.35). Country of study South Africa Research methodology RCT Journal BMJ: British Medical Journal; 2008 Journal paper title and link Impact of stepping stones on incidence of HIV and HSV-2 and sexual behaviour in rural South Africa: cluster randomised controlled trial Excerpt from Abstract "Stepping Stones did not reduce incidence of HIV but had an impact on several risk factors for HIV - notably, HSV-2 and perpetration of intimate partner violence." Summary at this link |