Characteristics of Received HIV Prevention Advocacy from Persons Living with HIV in Uganda, and Associations with HIV Testing and Condom Use Among Social Network Members

Receiving peer advocacy has been shown to result in increased HIV protective behaviors, but little research has gone beyond assessment of the mere presence of advocacy to examine aspects of advocacy driving these effects.

With baseline data from a controlled trial of an advocacy training intervention, we studied characteristics of HIV prevention advocacy received among 599 social network members of persons living with HIV in Uganda and the association of these characteristics with the social network members’ recent HIV testing (past six months) and consistent condom use, as well as perceived influence of advocacy on these behaviors.

Participants reported on receipt of advocacy specific to HIV testing and condom use, as well as on measures of advocacy content, tone of delivery, support for autonomous regulation, and perceived influence on behavior.

Receiving HIV testing advocacy and condom use advocacy were associated with recent HIV testing [65.2% vs. 51.4%; OR (95% CI) = 1.77 (1.11–2.84)], and consistent condom use with main sex partner [19.3% vs. 10.0%; OR (95% CI) = 2.16 (1.12–4.13)], respectively, compared to not receiving advocacy.

Among those who received condom advocacy, perceived influence of the advocacy was positively correlated with consistent condom use, regardless of type of sex partner; support of autonomous regulation was a correlate of consistent condom use with casual sex partners, while judgmental advocacy was a correlate of consistent condom use with serodiscordant main partners.

Among those who received testing advocacy, HIV testing in the past 6 months was positively correlated with receipt of direct support for getting tested.

In multiple regression analysis, perceived influence of both HIV testing and condom use advocacy were positively correlated with advocacy that included access information and support of autonomous regulation; confrontational advocacy and judgmental advocacy were independent positive correlates of perceived influence of testing and condom use advocacy, respectively.

These findings support associations that suggest potential benefits of peer advocacy from PLWH on HIV testing and condom use among their social network members, and indicate that advocacy content, tone of delivery, and support of autonomous regulation advocacy may play an important role in the success of advocacy.