Multiple sexual partners is a factor strongly associated with the spread of HIV infection. Swaziland’s National Emergency Response Council on HIV/AIDS (NERCHA), with support from USAID organised a major Behaviour Change Campaign (BCC) whose primary intended outcome is a reduction in the number of partners with whom BCC recipients engage in sexual activity. A second outcome is to delay the age out-of-school youth begin to engage in sexual activity. 

In May 2005, at the request of USAID and with support from MEASURE Evaluation, CIET undertook an assessment of this initiative. A baseline household-level measurement and a series of interim, gender-stratified focus group discussions with 20-49 year olds were completed by the end of 2005. Field teams returned to communities in mid-2006 to assess changes in the level and pattern of concurrent partnership attitudes, subjective norms and self-reported practices. The results have been submitted for publication.