AIDSTAR-One HIV Prevention Case Study Series

AIDSTAR-One is pleased to announce the launch of its HIV Prevention Case Study Series. The Case Study Series documents the "how to" aspect of good and promising HIV programs through in-depth documentation of program implementation and results. The case studies also include links to additional resources to guide program planners in designing interventions using state-of-the-art evidence.

The first case study in the series examines the Makhwapheni Uyabulala Campaign in Swaziland. Translated as "Secret Lovers Kill," Makhwapheni Uyabulala was Swaziland’s first national media campaign to focus on the HIV risk of multiple and concurrent sexual partnerships (MCP). The campaign promoted HIV prevention in the country with world’s highest HIV prevalence by broadcasting a powerful message that resonated with the public and encouraged behavior change. The Makhwapheni Campaign launched a widespread public exchange about multiple sexual partnerships and the spread of HIV, a topic rarely discussed in Swazi society.

Victor Scrutinize was the animated star of the Scrutinize Campaign, a year-long series of HIV prevention ads launched on South African television in June 2008. Irreverent and humorous, with strong, colorful visuals, the campaign’s ads were markedly different from previous South African HIV prevention campaigns for youth. Rather than telling the audience what to do, the Scrutinize campaign messaging encouraged those in the audience to scrutinize their own behavior and resulted in dramatic uptake of key HIV prevention messages.

Men who have sex with men (MSM) have been neglected in HIV programming in sub-Saharan Africa, frequently ignored in national strategies and hidden in the face of intolerance, stigmatization, and punitive laws. In Ghana, community-based organizations (CBOs) have been at the forefront of HIV interventions for MSM. Among the small number of CBOs working with this highly vulnerable population are the Accra-based Center for Popular Education and Human Rights, Ghana (CEPEHRG) and Maritime Life Precious Foundation (Maritime) in Takoradi. With the support of PEPFAR, these two organizations have been part of much-needed efforts to reach MSM with prevention messages, condoms, and lubricant and to increase uptake of HIV-related services using cell phone-based communications. View the interactive case study, CEPEHRG and Maritime, Ghana.