Experts plan new HIV messages
Jun 19, 2007
UGANDAN epidemiologists have noted that while the old HIV/AIDS messages had helped reduce infection rates, they are no longer sufficient. Most of the messages were developed in the 1990s.
By Fred Ouma
UGANDAN epidemiologists have noted that while the old HIV/AIDS messages had helped reduce infection rates, they are no longer sufficient. Most of the messages were developed in the 1990s.
Speaking recently at the fifth National HIV/AIDS Partnership Forum at Speke Resort Munyonyo, the experts concurred that a new generation of messages needs to be developed by adding new information. They called for a new approach to primary HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment as a means to avert the related deaths and morbidity.
In addition, they said the gap between knowledge and practice needs to be reduced.
Citing studies in rural areas of Uganda, Dr Wabwire-Mangen, the director of the Institute of Public Health, Makerere University, said whereas almost every Ugandan knows that HIV is transmitted through sex, only a small proportion is aware of mother-to-child transmission as the second most common route of HIV transmission. Yet few have bothered to know their HIV sero-status.
According to the 2004/05 HIVAIDS Sero-Behavioural Report, 79% (869,000) of an estimated 1.1 million HIV+ Ugandans do not know their HIV status. This is presumably because the old messages have become stale and HIV/AIDS is no longer viewed as an immediate threat of death or serious illness, but something normal.
Experts said the new messages should include mother-to-child HIV transmission, anti-retroviral drugs, infant feeding options, couple counselling, discordance as well as safer sex. This should target women in the child-bearing age of 15-49 years, old people, the married, urban residents and HIV infected people.
Dr Wilford Kirungi, an epidemiologist with the Ministry of Health, said prevention should be integrated into care, treatment and all support programmes with special attention on the deteriorating ABC (Abstinence, Being faithful and consist Condom use) strategy.
“As the epidemiological profile and landscape of the HIV epidemic has changed, so have behavioural patterns in the population. A new generation of approaches is necessary to take on evolving changes and must be massively scaled up urgently,†said Kirungi.
Wabwire-Mangen said a study in Rakai district had shown that women are more afraid than men to get their HIV results.
“We need to do something about the fear of women coming for their results. The fear is associated with domestic violence,†he said. If no actions are taken, health experts fear that the current prevalence could increase to 1.3 million in 2012 and 1.7 million in 2020, significantly increasing people in need of treatment, AIDS deaths and the cost of funding the national response.
Dr. David Kihumuro Apuuli, the director-general of the Uganda AIDS Commission, said at least $340m (sh570b) would be needed to reverse the current epidemic trends.
UGANDAN epidemiologists have noted that while the old HIV/AIDS messages had helped reduce infection rates, they are no longer sufficient. Most of the messages were developed in the 1990s.
Speaking recently at the fifth National HIV/AIDS Partnership Forum at Speke Resort Munyonyo, the experts concurred that a new generation of messages needs to be developed by adding new information. They called for a new approach to primary HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment as a means to avert the related deaths and morbidity.
In addition, they said the gap between knowledge and practice needs to be reduced.
Citing studies in rural areas of Uganda, Dr Wabwire-Mangen, the director of the Institute of Public Health, Makerere University, said whereas almost every Ugandan knows that HIV is transmitted through sex, only a small proportion is aware of mother-to-child transmission as the second most common route of HIV transmission. Yet few have bothered to know their HIV sero-status.
According to the 2004/05 HIVAIDS Sero-Behavioural Report, 79% (869,000) of an estimated 1.1 million HIV+ Ugandans do not know their HIV status. This is presumably because the old messages have become stale and HIV/AIDS is no longer viewed as an immediate threat of death or serious illness, but something normal.
Experts said the new messages should include mother-to-child HIV transmission, anti-retroviral drugs, infant feeding options, couple counselling, discordance as well as safer sex. This should target women in the child-bearing age of 15-49 years, old people, the married, urban residents and HIV infected people.
Dr Wilford Kirungi, an epidemiologist with the Ministry of Health, said prevention should be integrated into care, treatment and all support programmes with special attention on the deteriorating ABC (Abstinence, Being faithful and consist Condom use) strategy.
“As the epidemiological profile and landscape of the HIV epidemic has changed, so have behavioural patterns in the population. A new generation of approaches is necessary to take on evolving changes and must be massively scaled up urgently,†said Kirungi.
Wabwire-Mangen said a study in Rakai district had shown that women are more afraid than men to get their HIV results.
“We need to do something about the fear of women coming for their results. The fear is associated with domestic violence,†he said. If no actions are taken, health experts fear that the current prevalence could increase to 1.3 million in 2012 and 1.7 million in 2020, significantly increasing people in need of treatment, AIDS deaths and the cost of funding the national response.
Dr. David Kihumuro Apuuli, the director-general of the Uganda AIDS Commission, said at least $340m (sh570b) would be needed to reverse the current epidemic trends.