Ethiopia: hard work for successful AIDS prevention

Glob AIDSnews. 1992:(1):8-9.

Abstract

PIP: An innovative AIDS control program targeting sex workers and clients in Ethiopia has shown that hard work and government support are essential for the success of a program. Serosurveys conducted in 1988 and 1989 had shown that certain groups were particularly vulnerable to HIV infection: women who engage in formal or informal prostitution and their clients -- often migrant workers or truck drivers. So in mid-1990, Ethiopia's Department of AIDS Control (DAC) launched an intervention effort targeting these high-risk groups, a program entitled the Multiple Partner Sexual Contact (MPSC) Female and Male Mobilization and Condom Promotion Project. The program had a 3-layer strategy: 1) establishing a "trickle down" training process, which would create a network of MPSC peer educators and organizers; 2) identifying MPSC men to serve as educators for other men; and 3) ensuring the widespread availability of condoms for both men and women. As site for its pilot project, DAC selected Nazareth, a trading city of more than 30% among MPSC females. After 6 months of operation, the program's effectiveness convinced DAC to expand the project to 9 additional sites. An evaluation of the project has revealed several important findings: 1) retraining and motivation sessions must be constantly maintained; 2) men's resistance to condom use may be diminished by targeting them with education at the same time as the women; 3) interventions that take into account the socioeconomic issues faced by MPSC women make the program more effective; 4) it is important to develop new educational materials periodically; and 5) involving the owners and managers of sex-related businesses makes the program more effective.

MeSH terms

  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome*
  • Africa
  • Africa South of the Sahara
  • Africa, Eastern
  • Behavior
  • Biology
  • Condoms*
  • Contraception
  • Delivery of Health Care*
  • Developing Countries
  • Disease
  • Education*
  • Ethiopia
  • Family Planning Services
  • HIV Infections
  • Health Planning
  • Organization and Administration
  • Pilot Projects*
  • Research*
  • Risk Factors*
  • Sexual Behavior
  • Sexual Partners*
  • Virus Diseases
  • Volunteers*