Education Foundation Publicationsrepository.mzuni.ac.mw/handle/123456789/412024-03-28T13:38:23Z2024-03-28T13:38:23ZMitigation of climate change: a critical examination of the challenges of addressing energy- related deforestationJere, Docks R.Zalengera, C.repository.mzuni.ac.mw/handle/123456789/4442023-02-20T06:27:38Z2015-01-01T00:00:00ZMitigation of climate change: a critical examination of the challenges of addressing energy- related deforestation
Jere, Docks R.; Zalengera, C.
2015-01-01T00:00:00ZStakeholder acceptability of the risk reduction behavioural model [RRBM] as an alternative model for adolescent HIV risk reduction and sexual behavior change in Northern MalawiMwale, MarisenMuula, Adamson S.repository.mzuni.ac.mw/handle/123456789/4432023-02-20T06:41:23Z2021-01-01T00:00:00ZStakeholder acceptability of the risk reduction behavioural model [RRBM] as an alternative model for adolescent HIV risk reduction and sexual behavior change in Northern Malawi
Mwale, Marisen; Muula, Adamson S.
We sought to assess stakeholder acceptability of a risk reduction behavioural model
[RRBM] designed for adolescent HIV risk reduction and whose efficacy we tested in
selected schools in Northern Malawi. We used qualitative procedures in sampling, data collection and data analysis. Our data collection instrument was the semi-structured interview
and we applied thematic content analysis to establish stakeholder evaluations of the RRBM
model. The study population included10 experts working within key organizations and
teachers from two schools. The organizations were sampled as providers, implementers
and designers of interventions while schools were sampled as providers and consumers of
interventions. Individual study participants were recruited purposively through snowball
sampling. Results showed consensus among participants on the acceptability, potential for
scale up and likelihood of model sustainability if implemented. In essence areas to consider
improving and modifying included: focus on the rural girl child and inclusion of an economic
empowerment component to target the underlying root causes of HIV risk taking behavior.
Stakeholders also recommended intervention extension to out of school adolescent groups
as well as involvement of traditional leaders. Involvement of parents and religious leaders in
intervention scale up was also highlighted. The study serves as a benchmark for stakeholder involvement in model and intervention evaluation and as a link between researchers
and project implementers, designers as well as policy makers to bridge the research to policy and practice gap.
2021-01-01T00:00:00ZSystematic review: a review of adolescent behavior change interventions [BCI] and their effectiveness in HIV and AIDS prevention in sub-Saharan AfricaMwale, M.Muula, A. S.repository.mzuni.ac.mw/handle/123456789/4422023-02-20T06:50:30Z2017-01-01T00:00:00ZSystematic review: a review of adolescent behavior change interventions [BCI] and their effectiveness in HIV and AIDS prevention in sub-Saharan Africa
Mwale, M.; Muula, A. S.
Background: Despite sub-Saharan Africa [SSA] constituting just 12% of the world’s population, the region has the
highest burden of HIV with 70% of HIV infection in general and 80% of new infections among young people
occuring in the region. Diverse intervention programmes have been implemented among young people but with
minimal translation to behavior change. A systematic review of Behavior Change Interventions [BCI] targeting
adolescents in SSA was therefore conducted with the objective of delineating this intervention vis-a-vis efficacy gap.
Methods: From April to July 2015 searches were made from different journals online. Databases searched included
MEDLINE, EBSCOhost, PsychINFO, Cochrane, and Google Scholar; Cambridge and Oxford journal websites, UNAIDS
and WHO for studies published between 2000 and 2015. After excluding other studies by review of titles and then
abstracts, the studies were reduced to 17. Three of these were randomized trials and five quasi-experimental. Overall
interventions included those prescribing life skills, peer education [n = 6] and community collaborative programmes.
The main study protocol was approved by the University of Malawi College of Medicine Ethics Committee on 30th
June 2016 [ref #: P.01/16/1847. The review was registered with PROSPERO [NIH] in 2015.
Results: The review yielded some 200 titles and abstracts, 20 full text articles were critically analysed and 17 articles
reviewed reflecting a dearth in published studies in the area of psychosocial BCI interventions targeting adolescents
in SSA. Results show that a number of reviewed interventions [n = 8] registered positive outcomes in both knowledge
and sexual practices.
Conclusions: The review demonstrates a paucity of psychosocial BCI studies targeting adolescents in SSA. There are
however mixed findings about the effectiveness of psychosocial BCI targeting adolescents in SSA. Other studies portray
intervention effectiveness and others limited efficacy. Peer education as an intervention stands out as being more
effective than other psychosocial regimens, like life skills, in facilitating HIV risk reduction. There is therefore need for
further research on interventions employing peer education to substantiate their potential efficacy in HIV risk reduction
among adolescents
2017-01-01T00:00:00ZEffects of adolescent exposure to behaviour change interventions on their HIV risk reduction in Northern Malawi: a situation analysisMwale, M.Muula, A. S.repository.mzuni.ac.mw/handle/123456789/4412023-02-20T06:51:50Z2018-01-01T00:00:00ZEffects of adolescent exposure to behaviour change interventions on their HIV risk reduction in Northern Malawi: a situation analysis
Mwale, M.; Muula, A. S.
Understanding adolescents’ translation of HIV and AIDS-related behaviour change interventions
(BCI) knowledge and skills into expected behavioural outcomes helps us appreciate behaviour
change dynamics among young people and informs evidence-based programming. We
explored the effects of adolescents’ exposure to BCI on their HIV risk reduction in selected
schools in Nkhatabay and Mzimba districts and Mzuzu city in Northern Malawi. The study
used questionnaires as instruments. Data were collected between January and April 2017.
Adolescent boys and girls [n = 552], ages 11–19 were randomly sampled to participate. Data
analysis was through multiple regression and content analysis. Respondents included 324
female [58.7%] and 228 male [41.3%]. Multiple regression analysis indicated that exposure to
BCI did not affect risk reduction in the study area. The best stepwise model isolated sexual
experience ([Beta = .727, p = .0001, p < .05]) as having the strongest correlation with the
dependent variable – risk reduction. BCI exposure was stepwise excluded ([Beta = −.082, p
= .053, p > .05]). There was therefore no evidence against the null hypothesis of no
relationship between adolescent exposure to BCI and their HIV risk reduction. Overall there
was limited BCI knowledge and skills translation to behavioural risk reduction. The study
points to the need to evaluate and redesign adolescent BCI in line with current behavioural
dynamics among young people in Malawi. The findings have been used to inform the design
and programming of a model to be tested for feasibility through a quasi-experiment in the
second phase of our project.
2018-01-01T00:00:00Z