Stakeholder perceptions of the role of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in improving HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment

Background: Approximately 50% of the entire population in Ethiopia belongs to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (EOC), but in the Northern region of the country, more than 83% of the population is Orthodox Christian. In this deeply religious country, where access to health professionals is limited and HIV prevalence is high, research has shown that religious leaders can be very effective at breaking the silence surrounding HIV/AIDS, overcoming misconceptions about the disease, creating behavior change, and addressing stigma. This study sought to examine ways to improve partnerships between faith and medicine in Gondar, Ethiopia.

Methods: Data collection methods used for this mixed methods study design included in-depth interviews with key informants, a cross-sectional community survey, direct observation, and an extensive literature review. Study participants were selected by purposive snowball sampling and a thematic content analysis was conducted following transcription of interviews from Amharic to English.

Results: A majority of study participants indicated that religion influences HIV prevention and treatment in the community. Stakeholders perceive the EOC to be highly effective in promoting behavior change, reducing stigma, increasing access to psychosocial support, improving uptake of voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens.

Conclusions: Although some limitations exist, partnerships between faith and medicine can be utilized to improve HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment in Ethiopia. Interventions using the Ethiopian Orthodox Church could be particularly effective in promoting behavioral change, increasing awareness of testing and treatment, and providing psychosocial care and support to people living with HIV/AIDS.