Conducting a Participatory Situation Analysis of.pdf - Global HIV ...

Working with the Media
The media play a key role in conveying information
to policymakers and the general public. Mass communications
using news media, advertising, and
marketing channels are particularly effective for
publicizing new information and influencing social
norms. Media coverage of OVC issues can demonstrate
the benefits of particular programs and policies
or model behaviors such as community
acceptance of HIV-affected children. If the purpose
of the analysis involves communicating findings to a
wide group of people, and there are sufficient
resources, a media professional or health advocate
can help plan effective activities, keeping the following
guidelines in mind:
• Establish the message(s).
• Plan to meet individually with journalists or
host press briefings.
• Consider the audiences and direct the messages
to them, remembering that the audiences
are interested primarily in how they are
affected by what is said.
• Aim for media with the broadest reach, such
as radio, as well as for targeted media such as
those for the business community.
• Know the facts.
• Use human language. Everyone relates best to
human experiences, so use stories drawn
from the analysis to make the key points easier
to absorb.Avoid technical terms. Use
quotes from research participants to illustrate
the message.
• State the conclusions clearly, from the beginning.
For example, one might say,“This study
showed how communities can improve the
lives of children affected by HIV/AIDS … and
let me tell you how....”
• When interviewed, stick to only a few key
points; practice articulating a brief message
that broadcast journalists can use as a sound
bite (statement less than 10 seconds).
such as orphans’ school attendance dramatically decreases
over the span of education levels and overcrowded classes
impede teachers’ abilities to address the special needs of
vulnerable children.
V. Tracking the Effects of Dissemination
It is important to visualize how different groups might
use the situation analysis findings and recommendations.
How might the findings affect relations among
individuals or groups concerned with orphans and vulnerable
children? How might the findings affect future
research, public awareness, or community mobilization
to improve the situation of OVC? What might the
application of the findings mean to national or subnational
planning, allocation of resources, and social
services procedures and functions? Considering such
questions can stimulate the development of dissemination
output and outcome indicators.
Short-term or intermediate outputs from disseminating
findings on the situation of orphans and vulnerable children
may include:
• Publication of analysis findings in-country as well as
internationally.
• Presence of analysis reports in local, national, and
international resource centers or libraries.
• News media coverage of analysis findings.
• Number of individuals or groups that need the information
that have access to summaries of the findings.
• Locally initiated translation of assessment findings
into local languages or easier-to-read formats.
• Number of short courses or conferences where
results are disseminated.
• Publication in peer-reviewed journals.
• Funds allocated for additional communication of
results.
• Adoption of future analysis or research priorities
suggested by the findings and recommendations.
Long-term or ultimate outcomes or impacts from disseminating
findings on the situation of orphans and vulnerable
children are harder to measure, but may include:
• Number, variety, and mutuality of relationships
between those interested in the situation of OVC
and those who are in a position to help them.
• Persistent enhancement of mutual understanding
of terminology or language used by different groups
(e.g., politicians, community members, ministry
officials) to describe the situation of orphans and
vulnerable children.
Conducting a Participatory Situation Analysis of
Orphans and Vulnerable Children Affected by HIV/AIDS
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