A community participatory process for peer group HIV prevention.

A peer group HIV intervention programme was developed using a qualitative community-based participatory action research approach. Twenty-eight community leaders and 11 selected couples in two districts of Malawi were interviewed using individual formal interviews and focus group discussions between September 2007 and April 2008. Data was analysed using a modified constant comparison method. The study has developed HIV prevention interventions through a participatory process focusing on couple acceptability, intervention delivery methods and outcomes of participatory research. The results show that the peer education sessions should involve both men and women so that they learn together. Strategies on the spread of HIV, fidelity, HIV prevention communication, alcohol abuse, educating children on HIV prevention, sexual satisfaction, and condom use should be included in the intervention. Partnerships between researchers and communities are crucial for conducting successful community-based participatory research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]