Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) disproportionately impact non-Hispanic blacks in the United States. Racial differences in sexual networks can contribute to these disparities. Racial residential segregation, the separation of racial groups in a residential context, is a community factor known to influence sexual networks and has been associated with negative health outcomes. Our objective was to examine the association between racial residential segregation (henceforth, referred to as segregation), risky sexual behavior, concurrent partnerships, and STI diagnoses among non-Hispanic blacks. Demographic, sexual behavior, and STI diagnosis data for non-Hispanic blacks 15–44 years of age were obtained from the 2006–2010 National Survey of Family Growth. Segregation and community poverty data were obtained from the U.S. Census. Five distinct dimensions measured segregation, each with a representative index. Multilevel logistic regressions were conducted to test how each of the five indices were associated with risky sexual behavior, concurrent partnerships, and STI diagnoses. Risky sexual behavior results showed 16.1% (n=588) of participants engaged in risky sexual behavior. The association was stronger for the absolute centralization (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.07; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.05 – 2.08) and relative concentration indices (aOR 2.05; 95% CI 2.03 – 2.07). This suggests risky sexual behavior is most strongly associated with segregation in neighborhoods with a high density of non-Hispanic blacks and accumulation of non-Hispanic blacks in an urban core. STI diagnosis results showed 7.4% (n=305) of participants reported a STI diagnosis, and segregation was associated with STI diagnosis. The association was strongest measured with the dissimilarity index (aOR 2.41; 95% CI 2.38 – 2.43) and stronger for males. Concurrent partnerships results showed 15.6% (n=645) of participants reported concurrent partnerships. Multilevel analyses showed segregation to be associated with concurrent partnerships with the association strongest measured with the dissimilarity index. Segregation acted as a risk and a protective factor with risky sexual behavior, concurrent partnerships, and STI diagnosis, depending on the segregation measure. Additional work is needed to understand the mechanisms of how specific segregation dimensions influence risky sexual behaviors and sexually transmitted infections.

Magister Public Health - MPH / The aim of this study was to conduct an evaluation of the campaign implementation between 2009 and 2012, taking account of its implementation plan. This qualitative evaluation study employed a descriptive study design focusing on whether the programme components were being implemented as planned and whether any issues that have arisen, require attention. Key Informant Interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 12 respondents drawn from the study population of people who were directly involved with the campaign, and a documents review was also conducted.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of young people regarding the O Icheke MCP campaign who are members of Selebi Phikwe District Youth Council, in a mining town in central Botswana. The main objective of the study was to explore young people‘s views about MCP, to solicit their views on the key strength and weaknesses of the campaign, and to make recommendations to further strengthen the campaign. Within the framework of the Health Belief Model, a qualitative research approach was employed and data was collected using four focus group discussions categorised into the following strata  Males aged 18-24 years  Females aged 18-24 years  Males aged 25-35 years  Females aged 25-35 years The overall study finding was that financial issues, the apparent need for sexual variety, quest for material possession, and the impact of unemployment, migration and alcohol abuse are seen as some of the major factors underlying MCP in Botswana. The O Icheke Multiple Concurrent Partnership campaign was positively viewed as playing a key role in addressing the apparent knowledge gap regarding the impacts of these partnerships and in changing people‘s attitudes towards MCP and discouraging wide sexual networks. The campaign‘s target population, funding, stakeholders and delivery mode of the program were identified as its pillars and an effective vehicle to achieve its goals. The consultation between funding office and implementing organisations, coverage of the programme in surrounding areas and growing non-profit organisation were identified to affect the MCP campaign to achieve its goals. The recommendation is that more has to be done to improve the implementation of O Icheke programme through more funding, consultation with programme implementers, tailor made for people with disability and covering surrounding areas. The recommendation is that more has to be done to improve the implementation of O Icheke programme through more funding, consultation and capacity building of volunteers. / Health Studies / MA (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV and AIDS)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of young people regarding the O Icheke MCP campaign who are members of Selebi Phikwe District Youth Council, in a mining town in central Botswana. The main objective of the study was to explore young people‘s views about MCP, to solicit their views on the key strength and weaknesses of the campaign, and to make recommendations to further strengthen the campaign. Within the framework of the Health Belief Model, a qualitative research approach was employed and data was collected using four focus group discussions categorised into the following strata  Males aged 18-24 years  Females aged 18-24 years  Males aged 25-35 years  Females aged 25-35 years The overall study finding was that financial issues, the apparent need for sexual variety, quest for material possession, and the impact of unemployment, migration and alcohol abuse are seen as some of the major factors underlying MCP in Botswana. The O Icheke Multiple Concurrent Partnership campaign was positively viewed as playing a key role in addressing the apparent knowledge gap regarding the impacts of these partnerships and in changing people‘s attitudes towards MCP and discouraging wide sexual networks. The campaign‘s target population, funding, stakeholders and delivery mode of the program were identified as its pillars and an effective vehicle to achieve its goals. The consultation between funding office and implementing organisations, coverage of the programme in surrounding areas and growing non-profit organisation were identified to affect the MCP campaign to achieve its goals. The recommendation is that more has to be done to improve the implementation of O Icheke programme through more funding, consultation with programme implementers, tailor made for people with disability and covering surrounding areas. The recommendation is that more has to be done to improve the implementation of O Icheke programme through more funding, consultation and capacity building of volunteers. / Health Studies / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV and AIDS)