Creating awareness about

HIV-AIDS in the community

By Veena.K
2001
 HIV-AIDS
The problem of aquired immuno deficiency
syndrome (AIDS) affects all countries and a
greater number of people every year.

• There were 5 million new infections in 2005.

• 40.3 million people were HIV+ at the end of 2005
• 3.1 million died of AIDS related illness

• In India 5 million are affected,

 Statistics
New AIDS cases in India Cumulative
Males 79041
Females 32567
Total 111608
 Need for HIV-AIDS awareness

• Pandemic with no cure or vaccine

• Prevention of transmission for control
• IEC best way of influencing public
• Moving beyond awareness- Behavior
change
• Targeting youth
 Problems due to lack of awareness:

• 1. High prevalence of HIV especially in

the teenage, reproductive age group
• 2. Prevalence of misconceptions about
modes of spread, cure, etc
• 3. Discrimination and marginalization of
groups
 Steps in planning an awareness
campaign
• 1. Establishing goals
• 2. Initial assessment
• 3. Target audience
• 4. Setting objectives and performance
targets
• 5. Developing strategies: Messages and
materials
• 6. Developing channels of communication,
institutional networks, activities

• 7. Planning for support services

• 8. Monitoring and evaluation

• 9. Scheduling and budget

• 10.Reassessing the programme

The objectives of the IEC strategy in the
National AIDS control programme:
1. To raise awareness
2. To promote desirable practices
3. To mobilize all sectors of society
4. To create a supportive environment for the care
and rehabilitation of persons with HIV-AIDS

To achieve ZERO transmission of HIV by 2007

To attain awareness level of not less than 90%

among the youth and others in the reproductive
age group
Methodology used in awareness campaigns

Individual approach: Personal interviews

Home visits

• PROs • CONs
• Can discuss more • Number reached is
freely, small
• Confidentiality, • Only direct contacts
• Can argue and reached
convince a person to
change behavior
 Group approach:
1. Lectures
2. Demonstrations
3. Group discussion
4. Panel discussion
5. Symposium
6. Workshop
7. Conferences
8. Seminars
9. Role play/ situation discussion
 Adjuncts:

• Charts • Pamphlets
• Flipcharts • Videos/ films
• Exhibits • Slides
• Posters • Audio tapes
 Mass approach:
• 1.Television PROs
• 2. Radio • Wider audience
• 3.Newspapers • Cost effective
• Printed material can be
• 4.Printed materials: shared
pamphlets, posters, • Initiate discussions
• 5.Health exhibitions, CONs
museums, • One way communication
• 6.Internet • Technical expertise
• Response can be adverse
• Meaning misunderstood
 Some on-going programs
• Peer educators
• Promoting condoms: • Voluntary counseling and
condom carnival, condom testing
savaal, social
marketing • Behavior change
communication
• Red ribbon clubs
• Formation of clubs for • Targeted interventions
blood donation, street • STD clinic based
theater groups intervention programmes
• Celebrating world AIDS Surveillance
day
• Annual behavior
• Celebrity messages surveillance survey
• 24/7 Interactive voice
• Sentinal surveillance
response system(1097)
 More programmes…..
• University talk AIDS International:
• Family life education Grim reaper- Australia
for girls(FLAG) ABC- U.S.A
• Walk for life Hot rubber- Switzerland
• Best practices PIASCY initiative-
• SOS-save our sisters Uganda
• Saathi HEART- Highly
• Indian institute of effective art
young inspirers
 Wise up!

Help create change

 References
• www.psgaidsinfo.org
• NACO: www.naco.nic.in: for statisics and programmes
• www.unaids.org: for statisics
• www.avert.org
• www.worldwyca.org
• www.hivan.org
• www.iiyi.org: indian institute of yound inspirers
• www.coreinitiative.org
• http://www.sparsha.4mg.com/
• http://www.nari-icmr.res.in: National AIDs research institute
• http://www.who.int/en/
 References cont….
• AIDs prevention and care initiatives in Tamilnadu
• Alliance: Beyond awareness raising: Community lessons about
improving response to HIV/AIDS
• How to use an AIDS awareness communication package in the
workplace and community
• HIV Health& your community: A guide for action
• AIDS prevention through health promotion: facing sensitive issues
• Park & Park