Incorporating AIDS prevention activities into a family planning organization in Colombia
Vernon, R.; Ojeda, G.; Murad, R.
Studies in Family Planning 21(6): 335-343
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0039-3665 PMID: 2075624 DOI: 10.2307/1966922Document Number: 363470
Profamilia-a private family planning agency-used 2 operations research projects in Colombia to explore the use of family planning workers in AIDS prevention activities, and to test the effects of an educational radio campaign.In the first project, field workers in 15 cities gave talks on AIDS to regular clients as well as to groups in which AIDS was believed present (homosexuals, prostitutes, prisoners, soldiers, street children). Members of the Gay Support Group were involved in the training of the workers. Distribution posts for condoms were opened in gay bars, sauna baths, brothels, military barracks, detention centres, STD clinics and other meeting places.In the experimental group, workers devoted 20% of their time to AIDS and STD-related activities. In the control group the workers responded to spontaneous requests for information, and took advantage of opportunities for the establishment of condom distribution posts in meeting places of target groups.The study showed: (1) there is a large demand for AIDS information among regular family planning audiences; (2) family planning workers can reach target groups for AIDS information and condom sales; (3) workers who programme a fixed proportion of their time to AIDS activities are more likely to give a larger number of talks to a larger variety of groups, established more posts at a larger variety of places and sold more condoms; and (4) carrying out AIDS-related activities did not cause the workers' contraceptive sales to decline-the number of condoms sold in the experimental group was nearly 3 times that of the control group. Drawbacks were (1) difficulties in drawing sufficient numbers of people for talks; (2) low sales volumes of condoms in target sites (except in "by the hour" motels); (3) increased costs due to overtime; (4) violence towards one worker.Profamilia will now adopt the strategy of the control group, after ensuring adequate worker training, and will increase contraceptive distribution in motels.The analysis of the 3-month radio campaign in 1 city showed that (1) there was a significant increase [44% to 61%] in the proportion of respondents who identified condom use as a way to prevent AIDS and STDs-the bulk of the increase being attributed to hearing information on the radio; (2) there were no negative effects on the perception of condoms-this being coupled with an increased knowledge of their use as contraceptives; (3) there were no negative effects on Profamilia's image.[Although the results are not surprising, this study is an important demonstration for family planning associations that work related to AIDS does not adversely affect public image, and that they have much to contribute in reaching many different groups. The work would require follow-up to determine its efficacy in preventing STDs or HIV transmission. The analysis of the radio campaign needs further work as it is well known that increased knowledge, whilst necessary, is rarely sufficient for reducing transmission of disease-especially among people whose social situations put them at risk.]A.T. Klouda.