The role of information in Uganda's reduction of HIV/AIDS prevalence: The Rakai Project and World Vision cases

Abstract

The spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa over the last two decades has seriously impaired the continent's health care services and overall welfare. Unlike other African nations, however, Uganda developed and implemented a unique approach to combating this problem, reducing HIV/AIDS infection rates from 18.5% in 1995 to 6.1% in 2000. In response to the AIDS pandemic, national policies were developed for an Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) strategy. This strategy provides goals for the dissemination of information from numerous partners of multisectoral organizations including government at all levels, non-governmental organizations, including those that are faith-based, bilateral and multilateral agencies, and others. This paper presents a case study of two organizations in the Rakai District of southwestern Uganda whose goal is to provide information and education, research, and services to communities with a large HIV/AIDS population. The Rakai Project and World Vision have contributed toward the establishment of a community network that interfaces with the District government in order to facilitate the flow of both internal and external information to the organizations. This provides a conduit for current information to reach those most affected, which is . believed to be one factor in the overall success of Ugandan HIV/AIDS intervention policy.