HIV/AIDS and Communication

From SOUL BEAT AFRICA - where communication and media are central to AFRICA's social and economic development

In this issue of The Soul Beat:

* Scaling up MALE CIRCUMCISION campaigns...
* Addressing STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION...
* PREVENTION OF MOTHER TO CHILD TRANSMISSION (PMTCT) through radio and mentors...
* HIV TESTING CAMPAIGNS for couples and underserved communities...

In celebration of World AIDS Day on December 1, this issue of The Soul Beat highlights HIV/AIDS and communication. The newsletter offers a selection of programme experiences, strategic thinking documents, and resource materials from the Soul Beat Africa website which focus on the areas of male circumcision, stigma and discrimination, prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT), and HIV testing.

If you would like your organisation's communication work or research and resource documents to be featured on the Soul Beat Africa website and in The Soul Beat newsletters, please contact soulbeat@comminit.com

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MALE CIRCUMCISION

1. Male Circumcision: Global Trends and Determinants of Prevalence, Safety, and Acceptability
This report, published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in 2007, reviews the determinants, prevalence, safety, and acceptability of male circumcision in sub-Saharan Africa. The report states that there is conclusive evidence that circumcised men have a significantly lower risk of becoming infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and that demand for safe, affordable male circumcision is expected to increase rapidly. The report was therefore compiled to assist country-level decision-makers and offers information about the sociocultural and medical determinants of circumcision, as well as the risks of the procedure, in the context of comprehensive HIV prevention programming. In relation to communication, the study stresses that communication strategies need to be embedded within wider HIV prevention frameworks to ensure that men do not adopt riskier sexual behaviour based on the false assumption that circumcision provides them with immunity to HIV infection.

2. Country Experiences in the Scale-up of Male Circumcision in the Eastern and Southern African Region: Two Years and Counting
This report of a sub-regional consultation held in Windhoek, Namibia, in July 2009, summarises progress reports, lessons learned, and priorities for the next year from nine countries working to scale-up male circumcision for HIV prevention. The specific objectives of the meeting were to share country experiences and lessons learned in the roll out and scale-up of male circumcision; examine the facilitating and constraining factors to implementation; review tools and guidelines available to support implementation; identify inter-country, regional, and global support actions required to strengthen scale-up; and prepare action plans by country for the following 12 months.

3. Print Media Reporting of Male Circumcision for Preventing HIV Infection in sub-Saharan Africa
By Alberta Wang, William Duke, and George Schmid
This report from 2009 presents the findings of a review examining the types, content, and accuracy of print media reports on male circumcision for preventing HIV infection among men in sub-Saharan Africa. The review involved a trilingual (English, French, and Portuguese) search between March 2007 and June 2008. The research showed that the accuracy of the reports was usually good, although the articles were few and frequently omitted important messages.

4. Male Circumcision & HIV Prevention in Eastern and Southern Africa: Communications Guidance
This document, published by the UNAIDS Regional Support Team Eastern and Southern Africa (RSTESA) in 2008, offers guidance to programme managers and policymakers on how to plan and manage communications to support the scale-up of male circumcision in Eastern and Southern Africa. According to the guide, misinformation about male circumcision and strong opinions, both for and against the procedure, present challenges that should be acknowledged and addressed in scale-up plans. A number of key issues require strong communication support to ensure clarity about the relationship between male circumcision and HIV prevention.

5. Clearinghouse on Male Circumcision for HIV Prevention
This website is designed to generate and share evidence-based information about the role of male circumcision in HIV prevention. The Clearinghouse was developed by WHO, UNAIDS, the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition (AVAC), and Family Health International (FHI) to provide evidence-based guidance to support the delivery of safe male circumcision services as one component in a comprehensive approach to HIV-prevention services.

6. Moses’ Journey - Comic Book
This comic strip, developed by the Zambia Ministry of Health, Society for Family Health, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in 2010, focuses on Moses, a young man who is interested in learning more about male circumcision. The storyline follows Moses' journey from curiosity to post-operative behaviour, and responds to the principal questions about circumcision by providing a realistic model for other young men interested in male circumcision.

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PLEASE VOTE IN THE SOUL BEAT HIV/AIDS POLL

Communication of information should form an important part of male circumcision campaigns in Africa. Related to this, which of the following options do you agree with:

Options:
* Communication is being given the required attention.
* Communication is being ignored completely.
* Communication is given attention, but not enough.
* Communication is given attention, but the messages are confusing.
* Communication is given attention, but the most important messages are not reaching their intended audiences.

To vote and send comments, go to the HIV/AIDS theme site and see the Top Right side of the page.

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STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION

7. Facilitator's Guide for Training on HIV and AIDS Stigma and Discrimination Reduction
This guide, published by the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) and World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) in 2010, is designed to build the capacity of community members to enable them to lead a campaign on stigma reduction in their communities.

8. Social Discrimination against Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM): Implications for HIV Policy and Programs
By George Ayala, Jack Beck, Krista Lauer, Rhon Reynolds, and Mohan Sundararaj
This policy brief, published by the Global Forum on MSM and HIV (MSMGF) in 2010, provides an overview of social discrimination against gay men and other MSM as it relates to HIV. It also includes recommendations for concerted action and policy development. A review of literature that demonstrates the linkages between homophobia and vulnerability to HIV disease is presented with related examples. The recommendations are intended for a global audience of advocates, researchers, service providers, public health practitioners, donors, and policy makers.

9. The Heroes, Us Comic Book
By Frank Odoi, James Kamawira, Paul Kelemba, Godfrey Mwampebwa,
This is a cartoon book, produced by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in 2009, that depicts the real life stories of six people living with HIV from Busia Western Province in Kenya. The stories are designed to illustrate how the people depicted were shunned by the community but overcame the stigma and become activists, peer educators, and leaders.

10. Reducing Stigma and Raising Awareness: The APHIA II Nairobi/Central Advocates
By Mary K. Burket
This brief, published by Pathfinder International in 2008, shares the experience of the AIDS, Population and Health Integrated Assistance Nairobi and Central Project (APHIA II NC) of using community-based advocates to reduce stigma and raise awareness related to HIV/AIDS. Led by Pathfinder International, APHIA II NC brings together the Christian Children’s Fund (CCF), Malteser International, the Network of AIDS Researchers in East and Southern Africa (NARESA), and Population Services International (PSI) to implement an integrated programme of assistance to government, private, non-governmental, and faith-based partners in Nairobi and Central Provinces. According to this brief, the advocates programme reduces stigma, encourages prevention, and increases knowledge and service uptake, partly because of the programme's links with other support services.

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SOUL BEAT HIV/AIDS THEME SITE

The Soul Beat Africa HIV/AIDS theme site provides a specific focus on information related to HIV/AIDS on the Soul Beat Africa site. The theme site also has a special focus area on multiple concurrent partnerships (MCP) which has been identified as one of the leading causes of HIV infection in Southern Africa.

Click here to go to the HIV/AIDS theme site.

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PREVENTION OF MOTHER TO CHILD TRANSMISSION (PMTCT)

11. Strengthening PMTCT through Communication: A Review of the Literature
By Vernon Solomon, Kerry Frizelle, and Asta Rau
This document, published by the Centre for AIDS Development Research and Evaluation (CADRE) in 2009, offers a literature review on social mobilisation and communication in support of PMTCT of HIV. The report begins with a historical contextualisation of PMTCT in South Africa by providing a brief overview of the political and operational factors that have shaped policies and interventions concerning HIV and AIDS in general, and factors that have led to delays in implementing the national PMTCT programme more specifically. According to the report, the present conditions indicate an imperative need for coherent policies and a PMTCT programme with a strong communication strategy.

12. Radio Role Models for the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV and HIV Testing Among Pregnant Women in Botswana: Documenting Change
By Anne Sebert Kuhlmann, Joan Marie Kraft, Christine Galavotti, Tracy L. Creek, Maungo Mooki, and Raphael Ntumy
This study, published in the journal Health Promotion International in 2008, presents an evaluation of the serial radio drama Makgabaneng (Rocky Road) in Botswana, which is designed to encourage use of PMTCT programmes and promote HIV testing during pregnancy, among other objectives. The evaluation was undertaken to establish whether women identified with the PMTCT role models in the drama, and if this led to increased uptake of PMTCT and HIV testing. The study argues that, coupled with other supporting elements, serial dramas could contribute to HIV prevention, treatment, and care initiatives.

13. Project Masihambisane - South Africa
Launched in 2008, Project Masihambisane (or, "let's walk together") is an initiative revolving around a clinic-based effectiveness trial implemented by the he HIV/AIDS, STIs and TB (HAST) research programme of the Human Sciences Research Council, which works to assess how to improve standard PMTCT HIV programmes. The 4-year project involves the assessment of a mentor/mother support intervention supplementing a standard PMTCT programme in 8 primary health care clinics in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

14. Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV - A Behaviour Change Communication Guide for Health Workers
This booklet, created as part of the LINKAGES “Act Now” Campaign in Zambia in 2005, provides information for health workers to communicate around PMTCT of HIV, and infant and young child feeding.

HIV TESTING CAMPAIGNS

15. Love Test Campaign - Swaziland
The Love Test campaign, launched in 2009 by Population Services International in Swaziland, is designed to increase HIV testing, particularly among couples, by framing HIV testing as an act of love. The programme combines public awareness with clinical testing and counselling, and involves a media campaign, roadshows, and provision of testing and counselling facilities.

16. Go Together, Know Together Campaign - Uganda
Launched in September 2009, this campaign is a multi-media campaign in Uganda designed to empower couples to initiate and sustain communication around HIV and AIDS. The Ministry of Health (MOH) leads the campaign, with technical assistance from the Health Communication Partnership (HCP) and service delivery support from AIDS Information Centre (AIC), and funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The campaign works to encourage couples to seek HIV counselling and testing together, as well as encourage HIV status disclosure among sexual partners, adoption and maintenance of positive health practices (including risk reduction strategies and health seeking behaviours), and links couples living with HIV to treatment, care, and support.

17. Tutu Tester Mobile Clinic - South Africa
Launched in 2008 by the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation (DTHF), the Tutu Tester is a mobile clinic that provides HIV testing, together with screening for other common chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension. The Tutu Tester works to facilitate first time and repeated HIV testing among those living in under-serviced and high HIV prevalence areas in the Western Cape of South Africa by offering testing and counselling outside of traditional clinic settings.

18. Zebras4Life-Test4Life - Botswana
Initiated in 2007, Zebras4Life-Test4Life is an HIV testing campaign led by Tebelopele Voluntary Counseling and Testing Centers and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Botswana/United States (BOTUSA) collaboration. The campaign draws on the popularity of the Zebras national football team to encourage men and out-of-school youth to get tested for HIV. The campaign involves outreach activities in which members of the football team visit communities together with HIV/AIDS counsellors.

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To view previous related editions of The Soul Beat newsletter see:

The Soul Beat 153 - Children and HIV/AIDS

The Soul Beat 119 - HIV Prevention - Multiple Concurrent Partnerships (MCP)

The Soul Beat 112 - Materials - HIV/AIDS, Reproductive Health, and Lifeskills

The Soul Beat 94 - HIV/AIDS Communication

See also The Soul Beat e-newsletters on the Southern African OneLove campaign:

The Soul Beat 155 - Regional OneLove HIV Prevention Campaign - 2010 Update

The Soul Beat 141 - Regional Onelove HIV Prevention Campaign - Update

The Soul Beat 125 - HIV Prevention - Onelove

Click here to view all archived editions of The Soul Beat Newsletter.