A Savings Intervention to Reduce Men's Engagement in HIV Risk Behaviors

Composite incidence of at least one of HIV or other STIs (herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT)) over 24 months. The investigators will combine all STIs (including HIV) into a composite variable, with each participant counting once. For participants who are HIV-positive at baseline or HSV-2-positive, the outcome will be defined over all STIs other than HIV.

Money spent on alcohol during a 6 month period (2022 USD, winsorized at the 95th percentile)

Money, goods, and services spent on transactional sex (defined broadly to include financial and non-financial transfers to commercial and non-commercial sexual partners) during a 6 month period (2022 USD, winsorized at the 95th percentile)

Money spent on gambling during a 6 month period (2022 USD, winsorized at the 95th percentile)

Number of sexual partners participant had in the past 3 months.

Participant engaged in transactional sex (defined broadly to include renumerating someone via financial and non-financial transfers for sexual activities), in the past 3 months (binary yes=1/no=0). The question from the survey: "In the past 3 months, have you exchanged money, goods, gifts, food (including fish), housing or services for sex?"

Total number of transactional sex partners participant had in the past 3 months.

Number of transactional sex encounters participant engaged in during the past 3 months (winsorized at the 95th percentile).

Participant used a condom at most recent sexual encounter in the past 3 months (binary: yes=1/no=0). The question from the survey: "In your last sexual encounter in the past 3 months, did you use a condom?"

As measured by the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Concise (AUDIT-C) scale. The AUDIT-C is scored on a scale of 0-12, and higher values mean worse outcomes. We measure hazardous drinking, as indicated by an AUDIT-C score >=4.

Money spent on food items during a 6-month period (2022 USD, winsorized at the 95th percentile)

Money spent on household needs (including personal items; clothing and shoes; household items; utilities; and transport) during a 6-month period (2022 USD, winsorized at the 95th percentile)

Total savings and investment, defined as the money value of formal and informal savings as well as investments in physical and human capital.

The sum of savings held outside of formal institutions, including savings groups and money saved at home or elsewhere

The sum of savings balances in all formal bank accounts.

Value of all assets (2022 USD, winsorized at the 95th percentile).

Money spent on human capital investment (e.g., spending on children's education) during a 6-month period (2022 USD, winsorized at the 95th percentile)

Housing was improved in the past 6 months, e,g, repaired or constructed home's walls, roof, floor, toilet source, or drinking water source (yes=1/no=0). The question from the survey: "Have you made any additions or improvements to your house in the last 6 months? For example, have you repaired or constructed your home's walls, roof, floor, toilet source, drinking water source?"

Perpetuation of physical, psychological, or sexual IPV

Experienced physical, psychological, or sexual IPV

Financial wellbeing scale is a 10 item scale (Fu, J. (2020). Ability or opportunity to act: what shapes financial well-being?. World Development, 128, 104843). The scale is called the financial wellbeing scale. The total score ranges from 1 to 8 with lower values indicating poorer financial wellbeing.

3 item scale from Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. 0 to 9 with higher scores indicating higher food insecurity

Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale, PSS. 0 to 40 with higher scores indicating higher perceived stress

Perceived helplessness score (subscale of PSS). 0 to 24 with higher scores indicating higher helplessness

Perceived self-efficacy score (subscale of PSS). 0 to 16 with higher scores indicating higher self-efficacy

Assessed by a commonly-used scale that asks participants to make hypothetical choices between money received at two different times (e.g., 1,000 Shillings in 1 month vs. 1,100 Shillings in 2 months). Based on their responses participants are grouped into one of four ordinal groups that range from least to most future oriented. This was then binarized into the most future oriented group (category 4) versus less future oriented (categories 1 through 3).

Cantril scale which measures participant's well-being. 0 to 10 with higher scores indicating higher well being

11-point scale that assesses participant's expectations about their longevity. 0 to 10 with higher scores indicating higher expectations about longevity