Effects of Faithfulness-Focused Curriculum on Couples From Three Countries in Africa

Even though a large share of new HIV infections in many African countries occurs within marriages and cohabiting relationships, few prevention programs focus specifically on the couple as the unit of behavior change. Implemented through workshops uniquely centered on the couple, The Faithful House (TFH) is an HIV prevention curriculum focused on fidelity within relationships/marriages. Providing relevant strategies for strengthening the bond between couples, promoting marriage in cohabitating couples, and breaking barriers to faithfulness are three key objectives of TFH curriculum. Although short-term outcomes from TFH have been documented, the sustainability of these outcomes in populations deeply rooted in cultural and gender norms was unknown. To bridge this evidence gap, Catholic Relief Services conducted a study in Cameroon, Ethiopia, and Uganda to determine any sustained effects on couples attending TFH workshops.