Table 1

Summary of PLACE protocol: objectives, methods, and outputs

Objectives		Methods	Outputs
1.	Identify an area likely to have increased incidence of HIV	Synthesis of information from epidemiologic reports, census data, health reports, maps, and discussions with STD experts	An area selected and the context of the epidemic in the area described

2.	Adapt protocol, obtain community support, and ethical approval.	Consultation with community groups and ethical review	Adapted approved PLACE protocol including methods, sampling strategy, data collection forms, interviewer manual, table shells, lists of expected types of sites, and target number of key informants by type
		Translation and back translation of questionnaires/field tests of instruments

3.	Identify sites and events where people meet new partners	Key informant interviews with 300+ community leaders, STI patients, migrants, young people, beer/alcohol sellers, officials, taxi drivers, area residents	A unique list of sites where people go to meet new partners as reported by key informants

4.	Conduct site visits to assess the validity of key informant reports and characterise sites	Site visits to all sites to verify existence and location.	Tables characterising the verified sites in terms whether new partners are met at site, characteristics of patrons, exposure to intervention, and condom availability
		Interview with knowledgeable person on-site

5.	Estimate rate of new partner formation among individuals socialising at sites.	Brief individual interviews of sample of individuals socialising at selected sites.	Tables that describe:
			• Rate of new and total partnerships
			• Condom use
			• Frequency of site attendance
			• Sociodemographic characteristics
			• Pattern of new partner selection

6.	Summarise findings, estimate monitoring indicators, and prepare a map useful for the intervention.	Appropriate data analysis.	Report of findings including baseline indicators for monitoring interventions and maps.
		Mapping of sites on air photo or map.