Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #100501

Nancy Muturi, PhD, Journalism and Mass Communication, Kansas State University, 105 Kedzie Hall, Manhattan, KS, KS 66506, 785-532-3890, nancy.muturi@uwimona.edu.jm, Ron Page, MPH, Community Health and Psychiatry, University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Kingston 7, Jamaica, and C.Maxine Ruddock-Small, BSc, MBA, UWI HARP, University of the West Indies, c/o Dept. of Community Health & Psychiatry, Postgraduate Medical Education Building, Faculty of Medical Sciences, U of the W Indies, Kingston 7, Jamaica.

Across the world HIV/AIDS has shown that it is here to stay and take part in our lives. With 40 million persons living with HIV/AIDS, this disease does not discriminate nor have any biases or preferences between the righteous and the unrighteous. The Caribbean with about 600,000 cases is second to sub-Saharan Africa where 70% percent of cases diagnosed cases are between 15 and 44 years old. More organizations have responded to this epidemic in the Caribbean with efforts through various prevention care and support programmes. This paper explores the role of Faith-based organizations in HIV/AIDS prevention in Jamaica.

Data was in two parishes with highest incidence of HIV/AIDS using a combination of qualitative methodologies: 10 focus group discussions with FBO members and People living with HIV/AIDS and 60 in-depth interviews with leaders, resource persons, and PLWAs.

Key Findings indicate that most FBOs leaders strongly associate HIV/AIDS with individual lifestyles thus condemning those infected. However, issues of socialization, cultural acceptance of multi-union alliances, decline in traditional family structures, and sexuality are not addressed adequately. Mixed messages portraying double standards have been disseminated from the pulpit, which also contribute to the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS. The role as care givers and psychological support is not universally supported as more PLWAs feel suffer the consequences of stigma and discrimination from their fellow faith members. This is however declining with training and education programmes now being implemented within FBOs by various agencies.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will learn about the current activities and programmes in HIV/AIDS prevention care and support in Jamaica.

Keywords: Health Communications, Interventions

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.