HIV communication capacity strengthening: a critical review.

HIV communication is most effective and sustainable when it is designed and implemented locally and tailored to the local context. This requires capacity strengthening at national, subnational, and community levels. Through a review of the published and selected "grey" literature, we examine HIV communication capacity strengthening: definitions, measurements, implementation, and effects.

Communication and the antiretroviral treatment rollout: beyond the medical model.

With the advent of antiretroviral treatment (ART) for HIV/AIDS, governments and NGOs seek to increase the number of persons on this lifesaving medication and their adherence to the drug regimens. The conventional approach to communication within a clinical context includes provider-patient counseling, group education sessions, client information materials, and support groups. Given the layers of influence on an individual's behavior-spouse/family/friends, community, and societal-it is essential for the ART rollout to harness the power of complementary communication channels to create an enabling environment that supports individual behavior in terms of adherence.

Africa: using radio soap operas to promote family planning.

Programmes that combine mass media and popular entertainment formats can be a potent force in health communication since they can reach large audiences with persuasive messages. Not only can such programmes increase knowledge and stimulate approval, but also, when used effectively, they can change behaviour.

Changing men's attitudes and behavior: the Zimbabwe Male Motivation Project.

A multimedia communication campaign was conducted between 1988 and 1989 to promote family planning among men in Zimbabwe. The campaign consisted of a 52-episode semiweekly radio soap opera, about 60 motivational talks, and two pamphlets about contraceptive methods. Changes over time were measured by comparing a subset of a follow-up survey conducted from October to December 1989 to a baseline survey conducted from April to June 1988.