ISSUE: The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO) centre at Entebbe set up an HIV/AIDS Community Initiative at Nkumba village. The aim of this was to enhance community awareness of HIV/AIDS and build the communitys' capacity to prevent HIV/AIDS and to care for PWAs. PROJECT: About 50 AIDS community workers (volunteers) from Nkumba community have been trained by TASO-Entebbe. These community workers with the help of the local council administration visit women groups in peri-urban areas of Entebbe town. The aim of these visits is to promote HIV/AIDS awareness, give education on matters of family health, safer sex and protection from STDs. Methods used during these visits include talks, discussions, distribution of pamphlets, folk music and dance, seminars and showing video films. RESULTS: It was observed that the majority of women were ignorant about HIV/AIDS much as they had heard about it. Many thought they could not influence behaviours of their husbands but after a number of talks and discussions, many are willing to talk to their husbands. These talks have helped to remove misconceptions on matters related to sex and HIV/AIDS. Many women confide in the community workers their problems and seek solutions. LESSONS LEARNED: HIV/AIDS community programmes can remove misconceptions about sex and sexuality, STDs and AIDS, gradually leading to behaviour change.

MEETING ABSTRACTS Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*PREVENTION & CONTROL/ TRANSMISSION *Awareness *Developing Countries Female *Health Education Human HIV Infections/*PREVENTION & CONTROL/TRANSMISSION Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Risk Factors Sex Behavior *Urban Population Voluntary Workers

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