AEGiS-15IAC: What works: a guide to effective HIV/AIDS policies and programs.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

What works: a guide to effective HIV/AIDS policies and programs.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. E10043)

Gay J, Hardee K, Eckman A, Wood M
The Futures Group International, Takoma Park, MD, United States

ISSUES: While sound data is crucial for policymakers and program managers, much of the research showing the data on effective HIV/AIDS interventions has been written for scientists rather than for policymakers. Furthermore, the evidence from thousands of studies and evaluations is scattered in many sources that are difficult for policymakers and program managers to access.

DESCRIPTION: This paper will provide an overview of the forthcoming guide, 'What Works,' which synthesizes policy and program-oriented HIV/AIDS interventions that are based on evidence from peer-reviewed, published research and evaluations that provide clear and transparent methods, data and findings. The guide provides the evidence on HIV/AIDS interventions that work, those that do not work and promising interventions that require additional research. The guide includes interventions across the prevention to care continuum.

LESSONS LEARNED: With scarce resources, and with the pressing need to reach people with effective interventions to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and to mitigate the impact of the epidemic, program priorities must be based on effective interventions with sound evidence of success. This guide will help policymakers, program planners, and other stakeholders who are designing HIV/AIDS interventions and who are deciding among priority interventions by providing them with the existing data on the effectiveness of the interventions.

RECOMMENDATIONS: The guide, 'What Works: A Policy and Program Guide to the Evidence on HIV/AIDS Interventions' should be widely disseminated to policymakers and organizations designing interventions to address all aspects of HIV/AIDS. A similar guide already developed for safe motherhood interventions elicited this response from a field-based WHO staff member, 'Indeed this document will be a great resource in my work. In the face of the challenge...we truly need to promote to our very best ability 'What works'.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, Public Policy, HIV Infections, Evaluation Studies, Work, Anti-HIV Agents, Research, Disease Outbreaks

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