Experiences and strategies of AIDS preventive work in Mudzi and Mutoko. Experiences from 2 rural districts in Zimbabwe
Eriksen, K.; Forland, F.; Rygnestad, T.
Tidsskrift for den Norske Laegeforening Tidsskrift for Praktisk Medicin Ny Raekke 114(9): 1089-1091
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-2001 PMID: 8009525 Document Number: 287230
In the districts of Mudzi and Mutoko in Zimbabwe, 25% of pregnant women and 50% of patients with sexually transmitted diseases are infected with HIV. A major challenge of AIDS prevention work lies in changing sexual behavior by local planning and organization and school education in order to halt the most important routes of transmission. The International Aid Fund of Students and Academicians (SAIH) has been involved in health care work in Mutoko and later Mudzi since 1980. The authors, Norwegian doctors, worked there during 1991-93. In Mutoko there are two small mission hospitals in addition to the Mutoko District Hospital with 140 beds. Furthermore, there are 14 health care clinics of varying sizes and quality. Most have 2-4 health workers and at least one nurse. Mudzi is without a hospital; health care is provided from 19 health clinics. It is partly accepted that men can have several sexual partners, and prostitution is not regarded negatively. The socioeconomic changes have loosened erstwhile stronger sexual mores. The AIDS prevention campaign laid the emphasis on courses for health workers and village leaders with health education and campaigns in schools, villages, and district centers using audiovisual aids. Survey showed that the knowledge about HIV and AIDS was high, but there were about 8000-10,000 sexually transmitted diseases in Mutoko a year. In 1992, courses were held for traditional healers, teachers, church leaders, party members, and rural health workers. School children received the highest priority because their sexual behavior is not yet established. Community village workers numbered 140 in Mutoko and 124 in Mudzi who are paid to carry out AIDS prevention work two days a week. In 1992, in Mutoko 333 and in Mudzi 140 HIV tests were carried out, of which 74% and 90%, respectively, were positive. A campaign will be organized for voluntary testing of symptom-free population, and an HIV center is needed with same-day test results.