Document 0159
 DOCN  M9590159
 TI    Impact of counselling on safer sex and STD occurrence among STD patients
       in Malawi.
 DT    9509
 AU    Wynendaele B; Bomba W; M'Manga W; Bhart S; Fransen L; AIDS Task Force,
       Brussels.
 SO    Int J STD AIDS. 1995 Mar-Apr;6(2):105-9. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/95298890
 AB    In developing countries where professional manpower and basic supplies
       are lacking for STD control, low-cost prevention strategies must be
       explored. This study assesses the impact of counselling on STD treatment
       and prevention in Malawi. Increases in safer sex practices are used as
       indicators of prevention behaviour. A pre-test post-test control group
       design over a 4-month interval was conducted in 1991 in 2 comparable
       hospitals approximately 100 km apart. STD was diagnosed symptomatically
       and Knowledge Attitude Practice and Behaviour (KAPB) data collected
       using a structured questionnaire. In one group, trained counsellors
       discussed modes of transmission and prevention of STD/AIDS including a
       condom demonstration; symptoms and treatment of STDs; partner
       notification; risk taking and reasons for doing so; and motivations for
       behaviour change. The results show that counselling reduces the
       occurrence of STDs; increases concern for sexual partners; increases
       knowledge about and use of condoms; reduces mean number of partners; and
       reduces health costs due to fewer hospital visits. Although the observed
       behaviour change was short term, these outcomes argue in favour of
       counselling as a low-cost effective strategy for STD control.
 DE    Adult  Condoms/UTILIZATION  Female  Human  Malawi/EPIDEMIOLOGY  Male
       *Patient Education  Sexually Transmitted
       Diseases/EPIDEMIOLOGY/*PREVENTION & CONTROL  Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
       JOURNAL ARTICLE

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