AEGiS-15IAC: The Ivorian hotline: an important HIV information vector.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

The Ivorian hotline: an important HIV information vector.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. C10302)

Kpolo MA, Toa LD
Ruban Rouge Cote d'Ivoire, Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire

ISSUE: since the creation of a ministry of AIDS Control in Cote d'Ivoire, many initiatives have been undertaken to fight the pandemic of HIV/AIDS, many how ever, are centralized in Abidjan. the toll-free hotline, Info SIDA was established in december 2001to provide informations on STDs and HIV/AIDS.

DESCRIPTION: The Ministry of AIDS Control has assembled a unique partnership that includes Cote d'Ivoire Telecom, Ruban Rouge (a local NGO which over-sees the counselors), and a steering committee composed of representatives of HIV/AIDS organizations. Technical assistance to the line is provided by Johns Hopkins Centre for Communication Programs (JHUCCP), through the USAID funded Family Health and AIDS project (FHA). Within the first three weeks, over 3 000 telephone calls had been logged, today, after 2 years, over 56 736 telephone calls had been logged, with the majority coming from the interior of the country. Counselors use two suport materials to provide accurate, up-to-date information to callers: a question & answer guide of commonly posed problems, and a referral guide to STI/HIV/AIDS services throughout the country. For each call, the counselor fills out a sheet that will enable the Info SIDA coordinator to monitor caller demands and referrals made.

LESSONS LEARNED: An analysis of the calls reveals the following: there is a significant need for accurate information to be given to rural populations in a format acceptable to them (i.e. anonymously) ; ii) The large majority of callers are men 73% after 12 months of activity and 68% today after 2 years. and young people under 25 years of age (87% after 12 months and 91% after 19 months); iii) Private-public partnerships lead to win-win situations; iv) Hotlines can provide valuable information and support STI/HIV/AIDS services (through referral).

RECOMMENDATIONS: Promote hotline throughout country; Strengthen monitoring system to assure high-quality of counselor support.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, Hotlines, HIV Infections, Organizations, Research, Financial Management, Health Services Needs and Demand, Communication, Government Agencies, Health Services, Cote d'Ivoire, Humans, Male, economics

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C10302