AEGiS-14IAC: The role of the Media in HIV prevention in Uganda.

14th International AIDS Conference


Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

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The role of the Media in HIV prevention in Uganda.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. E11485)

Batto AB, Mugyenyi PM
Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda

ISSUES: In Uganda it is estimated that 1.5 million people are living with HIV virus. This means that 1 in every 10 adult Ugandans are HIV positive. In Uganda, just like many African states, it has been for along time considered taboo to discuss sex matters in public, thus a contributing factor to the high spread of HIV in Uganda because many people especially adolescents were living under ignorance. For this reason the media in Uganda came up in the fight against HIV/AIDS by educating the population.

DESCRIPTION: The media has used a number of ways ot educate the population. i) Radios: a special radio program (Capital Doctor) was set up on one of the FM radio stations in the country where a live talk show is broadcast wvery week and the community addressed their conerns to the doctor on the program on that particular day to answer any issues. Others who do not have relephones write to the program and their questions are anwered at the next program. ii) News papers: In the government owned Newspaper (New Vision) a monthly publication (Strainght Talk) was set up where the community especially adolescent address their issues regarding HIV infection and sex and answers to their questions are published every month. iii) Television has broadcast adverts, plays and live talk shows warning the public, giving information on risk factors, and guidance on use of Antiretrovirals and treatment of other STDs. iv) Sing posts and banners on roads warining the public and advertising use of condoms.

ISSUES: There has been increased awareness of HIV infection and prevention, increased pre-marital HIV testing and voluntary HIV testing, increased condom use and abstinence from se, living positively has also increased as many people have come up to declare their positive status. RECOMMENDATION: Media should be commended for having played an important role in HIV/AIDS prevention in Uganda through increased awareness.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, Condoms, HIV Seropositivity, Risk Factors, Radio, Uganda, Television, Coitus, Communication, Adolescence, Adult, prevention & controlKWDaegis,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,hivinfections,condoms,hivseropositivity,riskfactors,radio,uganda,television,coitus,communication,adolescence,adult,prevention&control

020707
E11485

Copyright © 2002 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.