AEGiS-15IAC: Accessing health services through local initiatives.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Accessing health services through local initiatives.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. E10079)

Basirika SR
Kavumba Community, Windhoek, Namibia

ISSUES: While the health sector believed that HIV/AIDS awareness would automatically result into decrease in HIV/AIDS prevalence and hoped the AIDS programs they designed would have quick positive impact on the population, many Ugandans thought they had enough knowledge about HIV/AIDS but believed had no control over it.

DESCRIPTION: Using Participatory Rural Appraisal tools, Kavumba Church guided community A to establish a two year Community Led Health Program. The people identified their health needs, designed Community Action Plan, selected volunteers to be trained in Counseling, peer education, condom distribution, training community trainers and involving the people in establishment of Community Based AIDS programs. The Church gave HIV/AIDS awareness to community B. Evaluation about people's knowledge, attitudes, practices and behaviours showed: community A had 63% increase in knowledge about HIV/AIDS. The people gained HIV prevention and AIDS care skills. 72% source of information on HIV/AIDS were the trained program volunteers. >70% PLWHA reported that the community was showing them positive attitudes. 98% of respondents expressed that they had realized their risky behaviors and some of the cultural practices that expose them to HIV/STIs but 2% of them, mostly women, expressed helplessness due to gender issues. The participants expressed determination to go ahead with the AIDS program and change their sexual behaviours. Community B no significant change was noted, people still held to their old traditions even those most likely to lead them to HIV/STIs. This paper is about the role the Community Based Programs play in promoting skills to fight HIV/AIDS and PLWHA's to access health.

LESSONS LEARNED: HIV/AIDS information alone is not enough to cause positive change. Recommendation: The Health Sector should intensively encourage and support people to establish local initiatives against HIV/AIDS in their settings.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, HIV Seropositivity, Health Planning, Consumer Participation, Population, Health Planning Guidelines, Counseling, Voluntary Workers, United States, Humans, Female, organization & administration, education

040711
E10079