Explanation of Differences between two Zika-related USVI projects

Attachment F – Explanation of differences between two zika-related USVI projects

Two projects are slated to begin in the US Virgin Islands as part of CDC’s ongoing Zika response. They complement each other in that, when taken as a whole, their findings will offer a more complete picture of Virgin Islanders’ knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about Zika, as well as actions they can take to mitigate the risks posed by Zika Virus infection. While one project approaches this goal by assessing contraception use among non-pregnant women of reproductive age and men of reproductive age in the USVI, the other deals primarily with a range of prevention strategies (including personal protective behaviors and vector control actions) among several audiences including pregnant women, community leaders, and community members. Below is a rundown of the two projects:

1. The first project, run out of NCHHSTP, is entitled Formative Assessment Regarding Contraception Use in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) in the Context of Zika. The goal of this study is to conduct a formative assessment to explore current knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding contraception use, in general, and related to Zika virus exposure, in particular, among non-pregnant women of reproductive age and men of reproductive age in USVI. Resulting data will inform the development of messages and materials designed to increase knowledge and awareness of the range of available contraceptive methods and to promote utilization of contraceptive services among non-pregnant women of reproductive age living in USVI who want to delay or avoid pregnancy during the Zika virus outbreak.

All of the questions being asked in the focus groups deal with pregnancy, birth control, and contraceptives-related information seeking.

2. The other, run out of NCEZID, is multi-faceted. It’s entitled Assessment of Zika prevention strategies in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The overarching goal of this project is to engage key audiences in USVI regarding a variety of Zika prevention activities in order to assess the current situation and to inform future action. There are a few questions about condom use that are asked of pregnant women, because condom use and/or abstinence are current recommendations for Zika prevention. Because condom use DURING pregnancy is a new recommendation to most people, several questions ask about benefits and barriers. Questions primarily deal with use of mosquito repellent, mosquito bed nets, clothing, mosquito control activities, the effectiveness of health messages, Zika Prevention Kits, and risk perceptions.

This project includes three distinct activities, all going through the OMB clearance process individually, since two are covered by a generic package, and one is not:

• Intercept interviews with pregnant women and community members. This collection is being cleared through OMB as an emergency ICR. It has two objectives (neither of which deals explicitly with condom use):

  • To describe pregnant women’s perceptions of risk, knowledge of Zika protective behaviors, self-reported behaviors, perceived benefits of performing behaviors, barriers and support needed for performing behaviors, receipt of a Zika Prevention Kit, exposure to communications, and trusted sources of information about Zika.

  • To describe community members’ perceptions of risk, knowledge of Zika, exposure to communications, opinions about select vector control activities, and trusted sources of information about Zika.

• Intercept Interviews with key audiences—pregnant women, male partners of pregnant women, couples, community members, and distributing partners—to get feedback on Zika prevention messages. This collection is being cleared through OMB as a Health Message Testing gen-IC (0920-0572). It will be submitted to OMB this week.

• Focus group discussions with pregnant women and community leaders to assess their opinions about various vector control strategies. These focus group discussions will offer insights that will support refinement and implementation of the communication and vector control plans. This collections will be cleared through OMB as a Health Message Testing gen-IC (0920-0572) once the messages have been finalized.