Microfinance and Health Intervention Trial for Youth in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Finding effective strategies to reach out to young men and mobilize them to reduce their HIV risk is critical, given men's control over the terms and conditions of most sexual partnerships. Unequal power distribution in relationships has a devastating impact on women, leading to HIV prevalence among young women in some sub-Saharan African countries four to seven times higher than among young men the same age. Gender power differentials have negative consequences for men as well, leading to increased risk of physical and mental health problems, substance use, and low uptake of health-related services. We need innovative approaches to address the structural and social determinant of young men's risk. Lack of economic opportunity is a key structural determinant of risk that has negative consequences for men, and has been linked to poor health outcomes. The influence of social network members is a social determinant of risk for both HIV and gender-based violence that can be addressed through interventions designed to change network norms. For the past 12 years our group has conducted research in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on HIV and gender-based violence. With support from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) we identified networks of young men who socialize in what are called "camps" and we successfully piloted a microfinance and health leadership intervention with men in camps like the one proposed in this application (R21 MH080577). Camps are enduring social groups of mostly men that have elected leadership, paid membership fees, and physical space to meet. The equivalent of a camp in US culture may be a cross between a club and a gang. Camps appear to be an urban phenomenon in Tanzania and our group is the first to have published data describing them. Men in camps engage in HIV risk behavior and in gender-based violence that put them and their partners at risk for HIV. Research suggests that microfinance combined with health promotion can lead to improvement in health outcomes, including reductions in HIV risk and gender-based violence. However, few, if any well designed evaluations of microfinance and health programs with young men have been reported.

Inclusion criteria

• Must be registered camp member for at least the last 3 months
• Must be at least 15 years old
• Must plan to reside in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania for the next 30 months
• Must visit primary camp at least 1 time per week
• Must provide contact information of friend or family member

Exclusion criteria

• Unwilling to provide locator information
• Unable to participate due to psychological disturbance, cognitive impairment or threatening behavior.