Achieving and assessing behaviour change
Mainstreaming HIV/AIDS: looking beyond awareness
How can HIV/AIDS be mainstreamed into ongoing development programmes?
Authors:
M. Wilkins; D Vasani
Publisher:
Voluntary Service Overseas , 2002
This VSO Experience in Focus publication shares lessons from the early stages of experience of mainstreaming HIV/AIDS as part of VSO’s Regional AIDS Initiative of Southern Africa (RAISA). Mainstreaming describes the overall concept of responding to HIV/AIDS in the development sectors where the pandemic may not ordinarily be addressed. For example, this includes teachers tackling prevention issues in classrooms, or community extension workers raising awareness of good nutrition for people living with HIV as part of a rural livelihoods programme.
Aiming to contribute to the integration of current knowledge on mainstreaming HIV/AIDS into development programmes, the case studies presented describe the activities and outcomes of community- or provincial-level HIV/AIDS activities supported by VSO. The lessons and recommendations are intended to be of use to practitioners in southern Africa as well as worldwide. The findings reinforce the importance of using basic developmental methodologies, in particular participatory approaches, to integrate HIV/AIDS. The authors argue that a participatory, facilitative approach increases sustainability and impact. [adapted from author].
