4065.0: Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - 9:30 AM

Abstract #25415

Integrating a behavior change mass media strategy into a broad agenda for expanding HIV/AIDS preventative and care services in Africa

Michael St. Louis, MD, CDC, Harare, Zimbabwe, 263-11-808734, StLouis@zimcdc.co.zw, Ethleen Lloyd, MS, BOTUSA, Gaborone, Botswana, Tadesse Wuhib, MD, MPH, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention - Surveillance and Epidemiology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1600 Clifton Road, MS E-47, Atlanta, GA 30333, Joseph Petraglia, PhD, Conwal, Inc., Atlanta, GA 30341, Monica Mphusu, Government of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana, and Christine Galavotti, PhD, Global AIDS Program/Division of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, NE Mailstop K34, Atlanta, GA 30341.

In 2000, CDC was funded to join other prevention agencies working on HIV prevention and AIDS mitigation in Africa. This initiative will utilize an expanding range of technical prevention services (such as voluntary counseling and testing [VCT], techniques to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV, TB preventive therapy, etc.). We have long known, however, that simply providing such services does not guarantee uptake. Thus, to promote uptake of HIV preventive and care services, as well as to encourage change in risky sexual behavior, we will launch entertainment-education serial dramas on radio in concert with the roll-out of services. Optimizing the impact of integrating the radio serial initiatives into our broader agenda for providing services requires us to conduct iterative measurement of service coverage and of persisting barriers to service delivery. This, in turn, feeds back into both the media strategy and enhancements in service delivery. Participants will learn the importance of integrating mass media, based on behavior change theories, into the promotion of innovative services. Further, they will learn how on-going monitoring and evaluation can be used to refine and enhance both service promotion and delivery efforts.

Learning Objectives: Participants will learn the importance of integrating mass media, based on behavior change theories, into the promotion of innovative services. Further, they will learn how on-going monitoring and evaluation can be used to refine and enhance both service promotion and delivery efforts.

Keywords: International Reproductive Health, Management and Sustainability

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: CDC's Global AIDS Program
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employment

The 129th Annual Meeting of APHA