HIV/AIDS Prevention & Reproductive Health Project

increased. "We were accused of being
shameless while performing drama on HIV
and AIDS, but now our views are listened to
and we are encouraged to continue the good
work". "Before we were told that only bad
girls and those who have AIDS provide peer
education to others - but from our street
drama we convinced them." Though youth
recognize some changes, there are still many
examples where the work of PEs is
misunderstood, they are being teased or
regarded as "shameless". For example, after
a street drama performance where a girl
played an HIV positive person, spectators
went to her brother and told him his sister
was an HIV positive. Indirect approaches
such as the street drama are easier to
implement, talking directly and individually to
community members is more difficult.
Moreover, increased direct communication
between adults and youth on issues related
to SRH is less likely to happen within such a
short time frame.
With regard to involving PLWHA, the project
has reached PLWHA though their visibility in
some districts remains limited. If PEs meet
PLWHA this appears to have a direct and
effective impact on their attitudes and
effectively contributes to eliminate any
stigmatizing prejudices that may have
persisted (unconsciously) before. Members
of a self-help group stated that
discrimination especially in the district cities
has decreased. Main reasons are that
information on HIV is now being
disseminated through different media which
reduces misperceptions. Another important
factor that decreases stigmatization is the
availability of treatment.
There are common features regarding the
incentives needed to keep the interest of PEs
and women groups: Integrating HIV into
other issues related to Reproductive Health is
essential to gain and keep the interest of the
women. HIV as a stand alone issue is not
sufficient to keep the interest and to fill the
agenda of regular meetings in a longer term.
Concerns of women are primarily related to
other RH issues including family planning or
the frequent problem of uterus prolapse.
Also, the motivational effect of the training
tends to fade away and it needs additional
means to keep the interest up and the
meetings busy. As one facilitator stated, she
had told the women everything she learnt in
the training and they would ask her for
further information which she could not
provide. One group used the quarterly
bulletin to choose subjects for discussion.
Another sets targets on activities for the next
month and discusses them in the next
meeting. Other incentives for the women
groups to meet include collecting
membership contribution for their funds and
to have an open space to discuss common
concerns and to meet up with "a reason for a
break from work". These incentives enhance
sustainability to some degree but are unlikely
to suffice in the longer term. Women groups
estimate that without additional incentives
activities are likely to level out within 1-2
years.
Teaching or talking to others also requires a
certain level of expertise that may not be
assured through a few sessions. Members of
a women group stated, for example, that they
would teach their children but are not very
sure regarding their level of knowledge. The
women groups have contributed to create a
more open environment on issues related to
HIV, but often they have less potential to
disseminate detailed technical knowledge.
Self initiative of women to access
knowledge has partly increased. Women,
for example, approach health posts or the
NRCS district offices to seek answer to their
questions. Importantly, women gained
awareness and skills to express issues
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CAPITALIZATION STUDY
HIV/AIDS Prevention and Reproductive Health Project
NRCS/SDC 2000-2007