PLACE Study in <name of PPA>

PLACE Overview for Interviewers

<Local Implementing Organization>

<date of training>

An Overview of PLACE:

Priorities for Local AIDS Control Efforts

Why Use the PLACE Method?

Urgent need for tools to focus local AIDS prevention efforts:

∆ Every day, more and more people are getting infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

∆ We need rapid, valid, low-tech, cheap, suitable for scale-up, adaptable across countries, and immediately useful prevention tools.

PLACE is the tool that will identify where prevention programs should be targeted in <PPA>.

How Does PLACE Work?

PLACE takes place in areas of countries where people are most at risk of getting infected or infecting others:

Priority Prevention Areas (PPAs)

Within each PPA,

PLACE finds out

where most

people go to meet

new sexual partners.

How Does PLACE Work?

This gives local

people information

to decide where

to target

prevention programs.

How Does PLACE Work?

How Does PLACE Work?

∆ PLACE targets new sexual partnerships because new partnerships are responsible for the spread of the HIV epidemic.

New sexual partnership

New sexual partnership

New sexual partnerships

How Does PLACE Work?

∆ PLACE targets new sexual partnerships because new partnerships are responsible for the spread of the HIV epidemic.

A group of knowledgeable people in <Country> have identified <PPA> as a priority prevention area in this <Country/Region/District/City>.

∆ Within this PPA, you will use the PLACE method to find out where people meet new sexual partners.

∆ Your work will determine where prevention programs should focus efforts.

PLACE Method Overview

PLACE Overview

WHY is this study in <PPA>?

<PPA> was selected because:

∆ the number of new cases of HIV is increasing in <PPA>;

∆ many conditions that encourage the spread of HIV are present in <PPA>:•Urbanization •Poor housing •Limited STI Care

•Migrant labor •Crime •Injecting drug use

•Border stations •Alcohol abuse •High population density

PLACE Overview

1 <PPA> identified as area for PLACE study.

2-4 Conduct PLACE assessment in <PPA>:

2 identify venues where people meet new partners;

3 visit, characterize, map all venues; and

4 rind out if there are many new sexual partnerships formed at venues.

5 Use results to target intervention programs.

Step 2: Ask Community Informants “Where do people meet new partners?”

∆ Ask where people meet new sexual partners <and where people who inject drugs socialize> in <PPA>

∆ Venues can include places like bars or events like festivals

∆ Ask until no new venues are named

∆ Output: List of venues with number times reported

Step 2: Ask Community Informants “Where do people meet new partners?”

Community Informants Can Include:

Officials Taxi drivers Bar workers

Street sellers STI patients Youth

Hostel residents

Teachers Sex workers

PoliceMobile populations

Hairdressers

Step 2: Ask Community Informants “Where do people meet new partners?”

Probe about new sexual partnerships in groups that are important to the spread of HIV within <PPA>:

∆ young women and older men

∆ commercial sex workers

∆ mobile and resident populations

∆ military and civilian

∆ <insert any others of local importance, e.g. injection drug users>

Step 2: Ask Community Informants “Where do people meet new partners?”

∆ New sexual partnerships are often formed between certain groups:

∆ “Mixing” (new sexual partnerships formed between members of different groups) effects how HIV spreads in <PPA>.

PLACE Overview

1 <PPA> identified as area for PLACE study

2-4 Conduct PLACE assessment in <PPA>

2 identify venues where people meet new partners

3 visit, characterize, map all venues

4 find out if there are many new sexual partnerships formed at venues

5 Use results to target intervention programs

Step 3: Visit, Describe, Map Venues

ALL reported venues are visited and mapped.

A knowledgeable person on-site is interviewed about venue patrons:

∆ male-to-female ratio∆ types of patrons (sex workers, gay, military,

mobile, youth, locals, unemployed)∆ where patrons live∆ whether patrons meet new sexual partners at

the venue.

Step 3: Visit, Describe, Map Venues

A knowledgeable person onsite is also interviewed about venue characteristics to help plan HIV prevention programs:

∆ type of venue∆ condom availability∆ evidence of HIV prevention programs∆ busy times∆ maximum occupancy∆ number of staff∆ venue stability.

Step 3: Visit, Describe, Map Venues Eastern Cape Township, South Africa Venues

∆ In about 3 weeks, 297 community informants identified 234 venues that interviewers visited and characterized.

∆ We expected 50-60 venues.

Step 3 Output: Venues Located Inside Priority Prevention Area

PLACE Overview

1 <PPA> identified as area for PLACE study

2-4 Conduct PLACE assessment in <PPA>

2 identify venues where people meet new partners

3 visit, characterize, map all venues

4 find out if there are many new sexual partnerships formed at venues.

5 Use results to target intervention programs

Step 4: Interviews with Venue Patrons

∆ 40 venues are selected for patron interviews at busy times.

∆ Approximately 24 individuals are systematically selected and interviewed.

Step 4: Interviews with Venue Patrons

∆ First, people are asked about their opinions:

Do people come here to meet new partners?

∆ Then, people are asked about their own behavior:

Have you ever met a new partner here?

Where else have you met new sexual partners?

Have you ever seen an HIV prevention program here?

58 Venues Not Found, No Longer Venues, Knowledgeable Person

Refused Interview, or Temporarily Closed

88 Venues Not Visited for Individual Interviews

352 Women Interviewed

Step 2:

Step 3:

Step 4:

761 Men Interviewed

929 Community Informants

227 Venues Identified

169 Venues Verified by Interview with Knowledgeable

Person at venue

81 Venues Visited for Individual Interviews

with Patrons

Summary of Steps 2-4 in Kampala, Uganda

End of PLACE Overview