• Overview of Possible Interventions
• The strategic framework of the lead agencies
• Preventive initiatives
• Care for orphans
• Psycho-social support for orphans

General Prevention Programs

Basically all HIV/AIDS programs include prevention both for the general public and for at-risk groups (e.g., sex workers, truckers). The principles for running a public information campaign apply to HIV/AIDS prevention as well: simple and clear messages (e.g., Uganda’s “zero grazing”), a variety of communication channels (from radio talk shows to street theater to village focus groups), and careful testing with key audiences to get the message and the medium right. However, children are often disregarded as a possible audience, so that neither messages nor media are tested with children. In addition, only rarely is help provided to help parents relay messages to children.

When planning information, education and communication (IEC) campaigns, the design should take into consideration different age groups and not assume that children do not need to be targeted because they are too young for sex or too young to understand. Of course, IEC for children should cover not only messages on how to prevent HIV infection, but also on acceptance and support of HIV-infected people. This is particularly important as most prevention campaigns aimed at children tend to be school-based, while the majority of under 18 are out of school. (For how to target children in information campaigns, see the section on consulting with children)

Targeted Prevention Programs

Population groups considered at particularly high risk of infection tend to be targeted with more intensive prevention programs. Unfortunately, children at high risk are generally not included. A particular group that should be targeted is child domestic servants. Reaching them is difficult because they are often isolated inside the household where they work and have little control over their use of time. However, some creativity and knowledge of local working habits can suggest appropriate ways to communicate, for example with programs on the typical day/afternoon off for domestic servants or with programs aimed at employers. The handbook on reaserch and action for child domestic workers can give some advice on how to do this.

School-based Prevention Programs

Reproductive health programs at the primary school level aim to reach students before they become sexually active. To be effective, the educational system should include prevention programs at all levels. An example of and effective school health program is the FRESH Framework (Focus Resources on Effective School Health), which is a joint venture involving the World Bank, UNESCO, WHO, UNICEF and others, currently being implemented in 20 African Countries. A more detailed discussion of the FRESH framework is included in Health section and in the Education section of this toolkit. In Uganda, a school health education program succeeded in lowering the percent of children who reported being sexually active in the final year of primary school from 43 to 11 percent.

See also: Preventing HIV/AIDS in transport sector projects.