[Perception of HIV infection prevention messages by truck drivers in Togo with respect to the <> billboard]. / Perception des messages de prévention de l'infection à VIH chez les chauffeurs routiers au Togo: cas du panneau d'affichage <>.

BACKGROUND: Togo is one of the West African countries in which HIV prevalence remains high in the general population. Several HIV prevention interventions have targeted truck drivers. The purpose of this study was to describe and analyse the perceptions of truck drivers with respect to the HIVprevention message of the <> billboard. METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted among truck drivers at "Terminal du Sahel" in Lomé in May 2013 in French and sometimes in a local language. The data generated by this survey were submitted to qualitative analysis. RESULTS: A total of 24 truck drivers were interviewed. They had already heard about HIV/AIDS and were able to list various modes of HIV transmission and various ways of protecting oneselffrom HIV However, they had a poor perception of the risk of contracting HIV infection. Although all participants had seen the "Roulez Protégé" billboard several times in various places, it made them feelguilty, as itsuggested that they were responsiblefor spread of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Truck drivers had a poor understanding of the message expressed by this billboard. CONCLUSION: In Togo, truck drivers constitute a group at high risk of HIV in which prevention interventions must be intensified.

Effectiveness of post-campaign, door-to-door, hang-up, and communication interventions to increase long-lasting, insecticidal bed net utilization in Togo (2011-2012): a cluster randomized, control trial.

BACKGROUND: It is well established that insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs), in particular long-lasting, insecticidal nets (LLINs), can be used as one of the primary interventions for effective malaria control. A consistent gap between net ownership and use has been observed, indicating that factors exist that prevent an owned mosquito net from being used. One approach used in the context of LLIN campaigns is a post-distribution, door-to-door visit of households with educational messages and to physically assist with hang-up of nets. METHODS: A cluster randomized trial was conducted in the Plateaux Region of Togo to evaluate the effectiveness of different approaches to post-LLIN campaign home visits (number of visits and timing) by volunteers to enhance LLIN hang-up and utilization. RESULTS: It was found that, in general, households that received intervention visits, particularly the most recent intervention visit, had levels of use that were typically 5 to 10% higher than the control households, while access did not differ among control and intervention households. Eight months post-campaign, ITN use by all individuals, children under five years and women of reproductive age was 11.3 to 14.4 percentage points greater in the study arm that received all three intervention visits than in the control communities. In households that received one or two additional door-to-door visits, the majority of respondents indicated that the volunteer provided new information during the visit regarding the use and importance of ITNs despite having received previous multiple visits. CONCLUSIONS: The impact of the interventions appears to have been primarily through the delivery and reinforcement of key behaviour-change communication (BCC) messages regarding the importance of using an ITN and its care. Regardless of whether the respondents in fact received new information or had forgotten earlier information, this suggests that regular visits from community agents are useful in reinforcing key BCC messages.

Consistent Condom Use during Casual Sex among Long-Truck Drivers in Togo.

BACKGROUND: In 2008, the proportion of truck drivers who were not systematically protected during sex was 63% with casual partners and 60% with sex workers. Despite the high level of knowledge on HIV/AIDS and the growing awareness of the existence of the risk of HIV infection, condom use always encounters resistance among truck drivers in Togo. We sought to document the factors associated with condom use during casual sex among trucks' drivers in Togo. METHODS: This was an analytical cross-sectional study conducted in 2010 and targeted truckers at truck station on the two main roads of Togo, Lomé-Cinkassé and Kodjoviakopé-Sanvee Condji. RESULTS: In this study, 1,782 trucks' drivers and their helpers were interviewed. All were men, and their mean age was 28.8 ± 8.8 years. Trucks' drivers were doing an average of 3 stops on their journeys and 1,229 (69%) of them had at least two years of experience in the work. Of the 1,782 trucks' drivers, only 620 (34.8%) had consistently used condoms during casual sex in the last three months. In multivariate analysis, predictors were: education level (primary schooling: OR = 1.54; p = 0.002; Secondary schooling and higher OR = 1.38; p = 0.036), good knowledge of ways of HIV transmission (OR = 1.53; p = 0.000), tested for HIV (OR = 1.67, p = 0.000), duration in the profession (2-5 years: OR = 1.43, p = 0.008; more than 5 years: OR = 1.38, p = 0.027), and HIV risk's perception (OR = 1.44, p = 0.000). CONCLUSION: These results highlight factors associated with consistent condom use during casual sex by truck drivers in Togo. This is a key population group at high risk of HIV transmission toward which the national HIV/AIDS control program should strengthen the HIV prevention strategies.