Community-based Responses to HIV/AIDS in South Africa: An Evaluation of a Children’s Radio Programme

AbstractBackgroundRe Mmogo Pholong (RMP) or “Together in Wellness”), was a combination prevention program to strengthen HIV prevention programming, community support mechanisms, community-based HIV testing, referral systems, and HIV prevention integration at the primary care level, thereby sustainably reducing HIV/AIDS transmission in the North West Province of South Africa. RMP included four overlapping components: situational analysis, community engagement and mobilization, community-based biomedical and behavioral prevention, and primary health care systems strengthening. In support of the PEPFAR country-ownership paradigm, we conducted costing analysis of the RMP combination HIV prevention program to determine data needed for potential transition of to local ownership.MethodsWe used standard costing methodology for this research.ResultsWe found that cost per unit of output ranged from $63.93 (cost per person reached with individual or small group prevention interventions) to $4,344.88 (cost per health facility strengthened). The RMP intervention was primarily dependent on personnel costs. This was true regardless of the time period (Year 1 vs. Year 2) or activity (i.e. wellness days or events, primary health care strengthening, community engagement, and wellness clubs).ConclusionsThe development of labor-intensive rather than capital intensive interventions for low-income settings such as RMP was identified as being particularly important in treating and preventing HIV/AIDS and other health conditions in a sustainable manner. Costs were also observed to transition from international cost centers to in-country headquarters offices over time, in keeping with the transition of international to local responsibility required for sustainable PEPFAR initiatives. Such costing center evolution was also reflected by changes in the composition of the intervention, including (1) the redesign and re-deployment of service delivery sites according to local needs, uptake and implementation success and (2) the flexible and adaptable restructuring of intervention components in response to community needs.

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How Much Do They Know? An Analysis of the Accuracy of HIV Knowledge among Youth Affected by HIV in South Africa

Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (JIAPAC) ◽

10.1177/2325958218822306 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 18 ◽

pp. 232595821882230 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nicole De Wet ◽

Joshua Akinyemi ◽

Clifford Odimegwu

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

South African ◽

Hiv Incidence ◽

Hiv Knowledge ◽

Community Based ◽

Accurate Knowledge ◽

The World ◽

Rural Place ◽

Unemployed Youth ◽

Hiv Aids

HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in South Africa are among the highest in the world. The key to reducing transmission is the dissemination of accurate knowledge. Here, we investigate the accuracy of HIV/AIDS knowledge among youth affected by the disease. Data from the Fourth South African National HIV, Behaviour and Health Survey (2012) are used and a weighted sample of 4 095 447 youth (15-24 years old) who have known or cared for someone with HIV/AIDS are analyzed. Results show that more than one-third (40.37%) of youth in South Africa are affected by the disease. One-quarter of the affected youth have 75% accurate knowledge of the virus, while only 10% have 100% accurate knowledge. Rural place of residence (odds ratio [OR] = 0.61) and looking for work (OR = 0.39) are less likely to have accurate knowledge. Youth without disabilities (OR = 2.46), in cohabiting (OR = 1.69), and in dating (OR = 1.70) relationships are more likely to have accurate knowledge. In conclusion, in order to reduce HIV incidence and combat HIV myths, efforts to improve the accuracy of HIV knowledge among youth affected by the disease are needed. There should be more community-based campaigns to target unemployed youth in the country.

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