| Methods |
This controlled before and after study (CBA) used a quasi‐experimental design where traditional healers practicing in a particular area were assigned to either an intervention or control group |
| Participants |
233 traditional healers (160‐intervention and 73‐control group) |
| Interventions |
Two researchers gave a workshop over 3.5 days focusing on HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections (STI)
and tuberculosis (TB). TB data will not be used in this review |
| Outcomes |
Semi‐structured Questionnaire (self‐report): 13 items on HIV/AIDS knowledge ; 9 items on HIV/STI Management Practices; 7 item TB knowledge index; 5 item Risk Index |
| Notes |
Study Quality: Low |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Baseline measurement |
Low risk |
Traditional healer outcomes were measured prior to the intervention and there were no substantial differences. |
| Characteristics for studies using second site as control (CBA) or Concealment of allocation(CCTs) |
High risk |
There are significant differences between the control and the experimental group with regards to gender. |
| Blinded assessment of primary outcome(s) (protection against detection bias) |
Unclear risk |
The study did not specify whether the primary outcome measure was assessed blindly |
| Protection against contamination ‐ Studies using second site as control |
Low risk |
Cluster sampling was used to include all traditional healers from four selected communities |
| Reliable primary outcome measure(s) |
High risk |
The reliability of the measures were relatively low. HIV/AIDS knowledge‐0.72; HIV/STI Management Practices‐0.81; TB knowledge index‐0.50; Risk Index‐0.48. |
| Follow‐up of professionals (protection against exclusion bias) |
High risk |
Of the 233 traditional healers in the study, 155 (67%) completed the 7–9 months follow‐up interview; 66% intervention and 69% control |
