The Communication Initiative
Development action with informed and engaged societies
The Communication Initiative
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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PAPER The Drum Beat - 24 - Ohio University - HIV/AIDS - East Africa

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The Drum Beat - 24 - Ohio University - HIV/AIDS - East Africa
Additional Information and Commentary - Please contact the student identified for a full copy of their paper.


By Juliet Evusa
International Student of Ohio University
July 1999
je230591@oak.cats.ohiou.edu


16. Women As Victims And Vessels Of HIV/AIDS Prevention In East Africa.

Justification for selecting the topic.

* AIDS is growing at particularly alarming rates among women in East Africa. Out of the 10 million adults with AIDS in Sub-Sahara Africa, 50% are women (Smith. 1998).
* Recently there has been a changing emphasis from the "traditional" high-risk groups (drug users, blood recipients, sex workers and homosexuals) towards women with promiscuous husbands, women with multiple partners and adolescents.
* Traditionally women have been conditioned to be care providers due to their multiple responsibilities (mothers, wives, agents of environmental protection, and managers of households), hence, they constitute as subjects of information and development interventions.
* As managers of information exchange, women's communication roles are tied in the social roles they perform. They therefore express social leadership in terms of family and community communication through oral, traditional and informal associations, hence, qualifying as transmitters and maintainers of the African culture.
* Women in East Africa become victimized due to socio-economic factors like cultural inequalities, poverty, illiteracy and lack of formal employment.

Research designs
* Utilized a qualitative method: the Internet (the Communication Initiative web site provided useful information on my theoretical framework), newspaper articles, journal and magazines.

Theoretical Framework
* Social Theory Process: Theory of Subjective Culture and Interpersonal Relations.
* Cognitive Theories: Theory of Reasoned Action.
* Emotional Response Theory.
* A Critical Feminist Tradition: Standpoint Theory.

Findings
Women used four interventions towards influencing behavioral change:
* Interpersonal Communication (information only, condom skills, relational skills and individual risk counseling). This was achieved through; women self-help groups, gossip and rumor networks, entertainment education using indigenous media (dance, drama, plays, songs, and poetry). Sex workers with leadership qualities reached their colleagues.
* Institutional Interventions directed to local schools, local and traditional medical facilities (traditional birth attendees and female genital initiators) and legislatures.
* Community Interventions where women national organizations for example Maendeleo ya Wanawake in Kenya (Women in Development) and other women organizations at district levels conduct regularly conferences. They act as a liaison between Governmental, International and non-governmental organizations and the local community.
* Mass Media Intervention. Utilizing multiple communication channels for positive response. Billboards, T-shirts, booklets, video, and flipcharts reinforce radio and television channels. Use of popular radio soaps like, Tembea na majire and Ni jukumu lako in Kenya. Blending of traditional and modern media reinforces the messages.

Conclusions
* Danger of overemphasizing women as victims of HIV/AIDS reinforces their helpless and passive image. Taking part as vessels of HIV/AIDS prevention encourages women as active participants in this struggle because they are taking an active role in empowering each other.

Recommendations
* Need to identify ways to explore and challenge social norms that support multiple partnership for men since interventions are less successful in changing cultural behavior.
* Calls for research to identify a more discreet barrier method for women whose spouses are still opposed to using condoms.
* Due to the large costs incurred to purchase condoms, there is need for the government to intervene by lowering the cost of safe behavior.
*There is need for the introduction of care and prevention programs (including AIDS Care Homes on the government's part with assistance from International and non-governmental organizations.