Extending HIV/AIDS-Prevention Efforts in Kenya: Primary Schools as Community-Based Organizations

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 439-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isaac Luginaah ◽  
Eleanor Maticka-Tyndale ◽  
Wambui Kairi ◽  
Janet Wildish ◽  
Chris Brouillard-Coyle

The question of whether primary schools in Kenya can take on community-based activities beyond their day-to-day functioning, emerged from a larger HIV/AIDS education and prevention program—Primary School Action for Better Health (PSABH). The methodology involved both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The quantitative component was based on 163 schools, which were involved in the larger PSABH program. Qualitative analysis was based on consultative meetings with twenty key informants and follow-up focus-group discussions with representatives from eight schools involved in community-based activities. The results suggest that in this context schools have strong community ties, with most of them willing to take up community-based organization (CBO)-related activities beyond their day-to-day functioning. Schools were more likely to take on CBO-related activities, such as support for orphans, if they had a higher proportion of female teachers, a school sponsor that was involved in the selection of the head teacher, more Parent Teacher Association meetings, and if HIV/AIDS was incorporated into community festivals. A school's involvement was reinforced if it performed well in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education examination, if the school's head teacher was committed, and if most of the teachers were from the local community. Despite several challenges, the findings point to the need to take schools seriously in their duty as CBOs which can have a positive impact in mitigating not only the effects of HIV/AIDS, but also other community-development activities in ravaged sub-Saharan African countries. The proposed expansion of PSABH further puts Kenyan schools in a stronger position to be involved in their communities through CBO-related activities.

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
T Gangarova ◽  
A Bakambamba

Abstract Migrants are disproportionally affected by HIV/AIDS in Germany, with about every third new HIV diagnosis given to a person who has migrated to Germany. More than half of HIV new diagnoses among migrants are people from sub-Saharan African countries. Because infections are not just brought from the countries of origin but also occur in Germany, HIV prevention services must be better tailored to the needs of migrants. Your Health, Your Faith (2016-2018) is a community-based participatory health project that aims to improve the involvement of African faith-based communities in HIV prevention services. The project is conducted by the National AIDS Service Organization in collaboration with partners from different African communities, African pastors, AIDS service organizations (ASOs) and researchers from the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. Teams of African activists, African pastors and ASOs have been built in eight German cities. All partners were invited to a series of concept workshops in Berlin in order to define together prevention contents, methods and forms of cooperation. Together, they developed a concept for preaching preventive messages in church settings and scenarios for a mobile educational theatre group. To date 65 multilingual events have been held at various African churches, reaching approximately 5000 people. The results of the project has been evaluated on a multi-case basis, with quality standards being compiled for prevention events in African churches. In the course of the project, the participants designed a video that illustrates the prevention work in African Church communities. At the request of the pastors involved, a mobile training series on HIV/Aids for African pastors has been developed with the support of medical doctors. Key messages HIV prevention in African churches and cooperation between African churches, public health authorities and ASOs is possible and promising. Communication via pastors has proven useful, as have supporting theatre performances that facilitate communication about taboo subjects such as HIV/AIDS.


Author(s):  
William Evans ◽  
Kuyosh Kadirov ◽  
Ibou Thior ◽  
Ramakrishnan Ganesan ◽  
Alec Ulasevich ◽  
...  

HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to be among the greatest public health threats worldwide, especially in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Condom use remains an essential intervention to eradicate AIDS, and condom use is now higher than ever. However, free and subsidized condom funding is declining. Research on how to create healthy markets based on willingness to pay for condoms is critically important. This research has three primary aims: (1) willingness of free condom users in five African countries to pay for socially marketed condoms; (2) the relationship between specific population variables and condom brand marketing efforts and willingness to pay; and (3) potential opportunities to improve condom uptake. Nationally representative samples of at least 1200 respondents were collected in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. We collected data on a range of demographic factors, including condom use, sexual behavior, awareness of condom brands, and willingness to pay. We estimated multivariate linear regression models and found that free condom users are overwhelmingly willing to pay for condoms overall (over 90% in Nigeria) with variability by country. Free users were consistently less willing to pay for condoms if they had a positive identification with their free brand in Kenya and Zimbabwe, suggesting that condom branding is a critical strategy. Ability to pay was negatively correlated with willingness, but users who could not obtain free condoms were willing to pay for them in Kenya and Zimbabwe. In a landscape of declining donor funding, this research suggests opportunities to use scarce funds for important efforts such as campaigns to increase demand, branding of condoms, and coordination with commercial condom manufacturers to build a healthy total market approach for the product. Free condoms remain an important HIV/AIDS prevention tool. Building a robust market for paid condoms in SSA is a public health priority.


2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (10) ◽  
pp. 1361-1367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Sherwood ◽  
Alana Sharp ◽  
Bergen Cooper ◽  
Beirne Roose-Snyder ◽  
Susan Blumenthal

AIDS ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
pp. S155-S164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christiane M. Horwood ◽  
Michele S. Youngleson ◽  
Edward Moses ◽  
Amy F. Stern ◽  
Pierre M. Barker

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
James Blaxland ◽  
Rhys Thomas ◽  
Les Baillie

Challenges faced by schools include how to make science interesting, relevant and engaging for their pupils. This can perhaps be made more difficult by staff members not having direct experience in many areas of the science they are tasked to teach, and therefore lacking the confidence to teach in these areas (Murphy et al., 2007). Within the higher education sector, there is demand for researchers to actively engage with the local community (Linder and Spear, 2003; Wynne, 2006). Working with eight schools, we co-developed a programme that both highlights academic research and complements the Key Stage 2 national curriculum with the aims of improving science aspirations, knowledge and confidence in Key Stage 2 (Year 6) children, supporting teachers in the delivery of areas of the curriculum identified as challenging, and increasing science communication and engagement within the university. We delivered two separate sessions with all eight primary schools, interacting with approximately three hundred and fifty pupils. Overall, the project had a positive impact on teachers, children and academic staff. Key findings indicated that 92.9 per cent of 348 children surveyed felt that they had learned something new, while 85.7 per cent surveyed felt they were more interested in science, and 14.3 per cent reported no change in their feelings towards science. The School Science Club represents a collaborative engagement project which highlights the requirement of accurate co-development and outcome settings from both the university and school in order to have a positive impact on all those involved. Findings suggested improvements in planning and delivery for future such endeavours.


2013 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 32-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatch W. Kalembo ◽  
Maggie Zgambo ◽  
Du Yukai

Background: The objective of this review was to explore and identify feasible, socially acceptable and effective adolescent sexual and reproductive health education (ASRHE) programs in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: Four databases were searched to identify studies conducted within the past 15 years which evaluate the effectiveness of ASRHE programs in sub-Saharan Africa. The databases searched were Embase, Medline, CINAHL, PyscINFO. A further search for relevant articles was made in the Google scholar website. The title and abstract of each article were analyzed for relevance by applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. Further scrutiny and extraction of the studies was completed by selecting only those studies which met the criteria for inclusion. Results: Fifteen studies were identified. School, peer, mass media, health facility and community based ASRHE programs showed positive impact in one or more of the following outcomes in adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa: ( i) knowledge of HIV transmission; (ii) perceived personal risk of contracting HIV/ AIDS; (iii) self-efficacy to negotiate condom use; (iv) discussion with others about HIV/AIDS or condom use; (v) abstinence from sexual relations; (vi) reduction in high-risk sexual behavior; (vii) condom use (vii) testing for sexually transmitted infection (STI) and (viii) treatment seeking behavior. Conclusion: ASRHE programs of diverse forms can produce positive change in adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH). There is need for rigorous research to assess long term behavioral effects of culturally tailored comprehensive ASRHE programs in sub-Saharan Africa.


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