Targeting rural families, students, truckers, migrant worker and prisoners.
Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. F11754)
Arif RA Humana People to People Inda, Jaipur, India
This is a story our arrival in a rural community, how we gained the trust of the people and how we began HIV/AIDS project. When we arrived in the block of 25villages in rural Rajasthan, we were met with hostility. It took time for the villagers to trust us, who were implementing an integrated village development project. Later we paved the way for HIV/AIDS prevention program, making it relatively easy to speak with the villagers. Everywhere we went, people were amenable to the presentations. Even in new villages where the staff had not worked before, people were welcoming. This was surprising given all we had heard about rural villagers and their strong cultural taboos. What we discovered is that with the right approach and with sensitivity to the culture, people will respond positively. From rural families to migrant workers, students to prisoners, and truck drivers to village women -all were receptive, answered and asked questions. Behavioral change, is the part we cannot evaluate right now. There is at least one sign that indicate people are taking message seriously village local doctors we have provided with supplies of condoms are asking for more condoms and literature. This is a step in the right direction, but our task is not finished yet, and education in greater depth and breadth is the next step. This paper will present my experience using examples drawn from fieldwork with which the author was and is directly involved from 1998 to the present. Whether this means that ALL villages in India. All that made us hesitate to speak with these groups was the idea that they would not be open. But over a short span of time we became totally comfortable with giving information on these sensitive issues in the rural and semi urban communities of Rajasthan, whose population is classified as the most rigid people. In fact we have found them very friendly and helpful.
Keywords: AEGIS, Students, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, Family, Condoms, Health Education, Culture, Rural Population, India, Human, Female, Education, organization & administration
