One of the most important lessons that has emerged over the years is that a fully mobilized and supportive environment is a crucial element of effective HIV prevention. In the words of Glen Williams and Nassali Tamale (1994), “In order to change behaviors, people need both information and support. Providing these is a task that requires the active involvement of all available means of communication and social organization.” Achieving that active involvement has its difficulties, of course, but in this presentation I will outline the design of one behavior change communication project and detail how stakeholders such as community leadership, organized community groups, village health volunteers, healthcare providers, religious leaders and policy makers have been successfully mobilized to develop a radio serial for HIV prevention in Ghana
More specifically, I will review two frameworks for participatory decision-making that have been shown to be effective and show how these approaches have enabled community members to diagnose their community’s HIV/AIDS risk and help them understand how that risk could threaten their health and livelihood. At the conclusion of this presentation, audience members will be able to identify the design considerations that shape an approach to community mobilization against HIV/AIDS. Furthermore, they will be able to compare and contrast the salient features of two major approaches to community mobilization. Finally, this presentation will demonstrate the mechanisms by which community mobilization can be used to support a behavior change communication intervention.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, audience members will be able to identify the design considerations that shape an approach to community mobilization against HIV/AIDS. Furthermore, they will be able to compare and contrast the salient features of two major approaches to community mobilization. Finally, this presentation will demonstrate the mechanisms by which community mobilization can be used to support a behavior change communication intervention.
Keywords: Health Communications, International Reproductive Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: CARE-CDC Health Initiative
This abstract was withdrawn 7/9/01 per Samuel Opoku Amoah's request.
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.