Social change communication: a panacea for HIV and AIDS?-An outlook of a program

Year 2011, Volume: 16 Issue: 2, 133 - 136, 21.01.2013

Rajesh Gopal

Abstract

 

Abstract. For about three decades of the pandemic of HIV and AIDS, need for an effective response has been felt very strongly. Human behavior being complex; widespread behavior changes are challenging to achieve. Understanding of the dynamics of HIV transmission cannot be separated from an understanding of the broader context of poverty, inequality and social exclusion which create conditions under which unsafe behavior flourishes HIV/AIDS is not a mere health issue: its occurrence is influenced by a number of socio-economic, cultural and ecological determinants. Thus social change communication incorporating the enhanced behavior change communication emerges as an inclusive way of responding to HIV/AIDS issues. Social change communication can tackle structural drivers of the HIV epidemic, with a particular focus on the drivers of gender inequality, stigma, discrimination and denial and human rights violations. Based on his understanding of social change communication as a practitioner and an AIDS control program manager, the author examines whether the issues related to social change communication make it an effective instrument for the containment of HIV and AIDS.

 

Key words: HIV and AIDS, behavior, social change communication

 

 

 

Keywords

HIV and AIDS, behavior, social change communication

References

• Global HIV Prevention Working group- Behavior Change and HIV Prevention: (Re) Considerations for the 21st Century, August 2008.
• UNAIDS Technical Consultation on Social Change Communication, Communication Initiative Network (http:/www.comminit.com) (last accessed on 20th June, 2009) on The
• Technical Guidance for Global Fund Proposals, Broad Area - Prevention, General Introduction - Social Change Communication By UNAIDS and WHO
• Consortium Perspectives, No Longer Separate But Equal: Opportunities and Challenges of HIV/AIDS Communication with ARV Scale-Up. Communication for Social Change Consortium Participates in XV International AIDS Conference, July 11-16, 2004.