Strategies

1 Provide information to communities on the vulnerability of women and girls to HIV/AIDS

SWAK will develop and implement a behaviour change communications initiative to sensitise communities on the gender factors making women and girls vulnerable to HIV infection. The behaviour change communications initiative will be delivered through:

• Development and dissemination of IEC materials: IEC materials with messages linking gender and vulnerability of women and girls will be developed and disseminated. The materials will include calendars, posters, brochures and booklets.

• Community outreach meetings: SWAK will organise and/or participate in community meetings organised by other groups to sensitise communities on the vulnerability of women and girls to HIV/AIDS. The focus will be on the gender norms and roles that put women and girls at a higher risk of HIV infection than men and on promoting change towards practices that put women at risk of HIV infection (including women inheritance, gender-based violence and women circumcision). Key target groups include CBOs, opinion leaders and community members. Other meetings that SWAK will utilise to sensitise the community include Chiefs’ barazas, religious gatherings and other public events.

2 Promote the involvement of men in addressing the risk to HIV/AIDS faced by women and girls

Men’s sexual behaviour has a direct impact on the risk faced by women and girls to HIV/AIDS. Without men’s support, women are less likely to negotiate safe sex or access prevention and care services. SWAK will address gender norms governing masculinity to promote the involvement of men across a range of prevention, testing and care and support programmes. This will be achieved through:

• Provision of sexuality education to young men undergoing rites of passage: Young men undergoing circumcision will be provided with sexuality education focusing on gender and HIV/AIDS issues and the practice of safer sex. The aim is to promote positive sexual behaviour change among young men which will impact on the reduction of vulnerability of girls to HIV infection. It is during the circumcision that gender norms of masculinity are taught to young men. SWAK will continue to intervene at this stage to ensure that young men are provided with appropriate information on the risk of HIV infection and develop a positive attitude towards women.

• Sensitisation of opinion leaders and young men and women (age 25-35) on VCT and PMTCT: Opinion leaders will be sensitised to enable them disseminate information on the importance of VCT and PMTCT as key HIV prevention services. Opinion leaders will play a significant role in influencing the community attitude towards voluntary testing and PMTCT services. Young men and women will also be targeted to enable them seek voluntary counselling before getting married and PMTCT services in the event of the spouse being pregnant. This sensitisation will focus on encouraging men to seek voluntary testing and to support their spouses to seek PMTCT services.

• Sensitisation of men on gender factors underlying women and girls’ vulnerability to HIV infection: Men play a significant role in determining the vulnerability of w00omen and girls to HIV infection. They have more powers in their sexual relationship with women making it difficult for women to negotiate safer sex. Positive change in men’s sexual behaviour therefore has an effect of reducing women’s vulnerability to HIV infection to a great extent. SWAK has prioritised the sensitisation of men on the underlying gender factors exposing women and girls to HIV infection to enable them practise safer sex. Men will be reached through:

(i) Groups whose membership is predominantly men. These groups include Matatu associations, Farmers groups, Business associations, Teachers’ union, religious groups and self help groups.

(ii) Providing the groups with educational material to sustain mainstreaming of gender and HIV/AIDS in their activities

(iii) Radio and television expert speaker and debate programmes

(iv) Networking and collaboration meetings with other key actors

[ back ]