| dc.description.abstract | This study used a quasi-experimental pre-post design to test whether short training can improve medicine sellers’ (MSs) practices
and skills for prevention and control of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Bangladesh. The training included lectures, printed
materials, and identification of referral sites. Difference-in-differences estimation was used to determine the effects of intervention
on key primary and secondary outcomes. Advice given by the MSs in intervention group for partner treatment and condoms use
increased significantly by 11% and 9%, respectively, after adjusting for baseline differences in education, religion, age, duration of
training, and study site. Referral of clients to qualified service providers increased by 5% in the intervention group compared to
the comparison group, but this change was not found to be statistically significant. Significantly higher proportion of MSs in the
intervention group recognized the recommended medications as per the national syndromic management guidelines in Bangladesh
for treatment of urethral discharge and genital ulcer symptoms. Short training intervention was found to be effective in improving
MSs’ practice of promoting condom use and partner treatment to the clients. We anticipate the need for broad based training
programs of MSs to improve their skills for the prevention and control of STI/HIV in Bangladesh. | en_US |
