C-Picks 21 - C-Modules and Tools for HIV Prevention

C-Modules and Tools for HIV Prevention

In This Issue

C-MODULES – COURSE ON SBCC

1. C-Change and Ohio U. Launch Online C-Modules Course

HIV COMMUNICATION: PROCESSES AND TOOLS FROM NAMIBIA

2. Break the Chain MCP Picture Codes

3. Stand Up Campaign in Namibia: Alcohol and HIV Prevention

4. C-Change Namibia's Approach to SBCC Capacity Strengthening: A Quality Improvement Process

5. AIDSTAR-One - Namibia's Prevention Planning Process: Successful Collaboration for a National Combination HIV Prevention Strategy

PREVENTING HIV AMONG VULNERABLE GROUPS

6. Community Conversation Toolkit for HIV Prevention

7. Global Best Practices: Effective Approaches to Inform SBCC Programming and Reduce HIV Risk (from C-Change)

8. Faith-Based Organizations and HIV Prevention with Most-at-Risk Populations in Mexico

9. Guidelines: Prevention and Treatment of HIV and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections among Men Who Have Sex with Men and Transgender People

10. Don't Stop Now, Finish the Job!: Making HIV Prevention Funding Work

C-MODULES – COURSE ON SBCC

1. C-Change and Ohio U. Launch Online C-Modules Course

C-Change and Ohio University recently launched the C-Modules course on SBCC in two versions - facilitated online and self-paced online. The goal of the 6-module course is to develop and strengthen competencies in the planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of SBCC activities. To enroll in the self-paced course or to find out more about future facilitated courses, click here. Visit the C-Change website for detailed information on the C-Modules and other SBCC tools that the project has developed to strengthen the capacity of organisations and individuals to carry out SBCC.

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HIV COMMUNICATION: PROCESSES AND TOOLS FROM NAMIBIA

2. Break the Chain MCP Picture Codes

As part of Break the Chain, a multi-channel, multi-level national SBCC campaign that addresses the practice of multiple and concurrent sexual partnerships (MCP), C-Change Namibia and Nawa Life Trust developed this multiple and concurrent sexual partnerships picture code flip chart. Field workers and volunteers in Namibia are using it to create conversations for behaviour change that focus on the drivers of the HIV epidemic in Namibia. The MCP picture codes generate discussion on the practices of multiple and concurrent sexual partnerships, cross-generational sex, transactional sex, and couples communication. Included in this resource are details about how a field worker or volunteer can use picture codes to address MCP. Suggestions are offered about how to get started, what kinds of questions to ask during a session, how to be a good listener, how to get everyone to participate, and organising sessions.

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3. Alcohol and HIV Picture Codes Flip Chart

Produced by C-Change/Namibia as part of the "Stand Up" Alcohol and HIV campaign in January 2010, this picture codes flip chart is designed for field workers and volunteers to create conversations for behaviour change that focus on the drivers of the HIV epidemic. Contents of the flip chart can form part of a comprehensive HIV behaviour change curriculum or be used as a stand-alone material.

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4. C-Change Namibia's Approach to SBCC Capacity Strengthening: A Participatory Quality Improvement Process for SBCC Programs and Group Sessions on HIV Prevention and in Any Health Area

C-Change Namibia has developed tools and uses a participatory approach to assist organisations with improving the quality of their social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) programming for HIV prevention and any health area. The tools include two checklists and a recommendation form for use by quality improvement (QI) teams. The checklists are based on minimum quality standards for SBCC programmes in three areas: planning and design, implementation of group sessions and other activities, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E). A QI team employs these checklists during office visits and observational and support visits to group sessions, then comes to consensus on agreed-upon actionable recommendations on strengthening the programme.

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5. Namibia's Prevention Planning Process: Successful Collaboration for a National Combination HIV Prevention Strategy

This June 2011 study from the AIDS Support and Technical Assistance Resources, Sector I, Task Order 1 (AIDSTAR-One) explores how Namibia has employed a combination HIV prevention strategy that has been designed to overcome some of the hurdles experienced by other nations. According to the authors, Namibia's prevention planning process demonstrates a combination prevention approach:

• By using evidence to target prevention activities addressing social, economic, and cultural drivers of transmission.
• By including a combination of risk reduction approaches (biomedical, behavioural, and structural).
• By linking programme participants to diagnostic and treatment services.
• By engaging appropriate leaders and decision makers.
• By strengthening capacity to manage prevention programmes.

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PREVENTING HIV AMONG VULNERABLE GROUPS

6. Community Conversation Toolkit for HIV Prevention

The Community Conversation Toolkit for HIV Prevention, developed by the C Change project and funded by USAID, comprises six materials (community mobilisers' cards, role-play cards, storytelling finger puppets, promotional proverbs and best kept secrets throw boxes, promotional playing cards, and dialogue buttons) along with a facilitator's guide and is used to mobilise communities for HIV Prevention. Languages include: Kikaonde, English, Oshiwambo, Ndebele, Chichewa, Portuguese, Sesotho, Siswati, and Zulu; local language versions for Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, and Namibia are in the works.

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7. Global Best Practices: Effective Approaches to Inform SBCC Programming and Reduce HIV Risk (from C-Change)

Developed by C-Change in May 2011, this report provides an overview of good and emerging SBCC responses to the HIV prevention needs of sex workers and men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States, sub-Saharan Africa, India, the Caribbean, and Latin America. "The programs and approaches highlighted exemplify the vast global experience that can inform successful SBCC HIV prevention programs....The first step is to fill some critical gaps by:

• Developing a national SBCC strategy in each country that addresses the prevention and support needs of sex workers and MSM and provides a cohesive framework for organizations serving these populations;
• Strengthening the capacity of civil society and Ministry of Health partners implementing SBCC-related prevention programs for sex workers and MSM;
• Comprehensively addressing the deep levels of stigma these groups' experience;
• Undertaking advocacy toward the decriminalization of sex work and buggery - moving beyond addressing individual knowledge and behaviors to creating an enabling environment for change;
• Engaging MSM and sex workers in the development of programming and messages;
• Addressing the psychosocial needs of MSM and sex workers; and
• Exploring how communication channels such as the Internet and other social media can play a role in programming for most-at-risk populations..."

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8. Faith-Based Organizations and HIV Prevention with Most-at-Risk Populations in Mexico

From the Case Study Series from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)'s AIDSTAR-One (AIDS Support and Technical Assistance Resources, Sector 1, Task Order 1), this May 2011 case study describes the work of 3 Mexican faith-based organisations (FBOs) that are reaching out to most at risk populations (MARPs) who may have been overlooked by traditional HIV prevention outreach. "MARPs and other vulnerable populations often engage in behaviors that are at odds with traditional religious teachings. Instead of using religious doctrine as justification to avoid or to shun MARPs and other vulnerable populations, the three FBOs mentioned use their faith as a motivation and means to reach marginalized populations. Sexuality is approached from a holistic perspective, integrated with faith, and interwoven with messages on HIV prevention and care."

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9. Guidelines: Prevention and Treatment of HIV and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections among Men Who Have Sex with Men and Transgender People

From the World Health Organization (WHO), this June 2011 document presents good practice recommendations that focus on ensuring an enabling environment for the recognition and protection of the human rights of MSM and transgender people. Communication-related recommendations include:

• Establish anti-discrimination and protective laws.
• Make health services inclusive, based on the principles of medical ethics and the right to health.
• Offer HIV testing and counselling to MSM and transgender people, as well as community-based HIV testing and counselling linked to care and treatment.
• Implement individual- and community-level behavioural interventions for the prevention of HIV and STIs among MSM and transgender people.
• Offer targeted internet-based information to decrease risky sexual behaviours and increase uptake of HIV testing and counselling.
• Use social marketing strategies to increase the uptake of HIV/STI testing and counselling and HIV services.
• Implement sex venue-based outreach strategies to decrease risky sexual behaviour and increase uptake of HIV testing and counselling.
• Provide MSM and transgender people who engage in harmful alcohol or other substance use with access to evidence-based brief psychosocial interventions involving assessment, specific feedback, and advice.

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10. Don't Stop Now, Finish the Job!: Making HIV Prevention Funding Work

This April 2011 paper establishes the International HIV/AIDS Alliance What's Preventing Prevention? campaign. The paper calls on international donors to: (i) recommit to Universal Access by 2015 and strengthen country reporting; (ii) invest in rights-based, evidence-informed HIV prevention programmes for and with key populations - "including through the Global Fund (e.g. the 'Most-at risk populations (MARPs) channel') and similar mechanisms..."; and (iii) fund country-owned HIV programmes with meaningful involvement of key populations.

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C-Picks and SBCC

Please visit the C-Picks website for more resources and information about social and behaviour change communication (SBCC).

C-Picks continues to seek new knowledge and experiences in SBCC - case studies, strategic thinking, support materials, and other relevant documentation. Please contact cchange@comminit.com

FHI 360 has acquired the programmes, expertise, and assets of AED.

This publication is made possible by the support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the terms of Agreement No. GPO-A-00-07-00004-00. The contents are the responsibility of The Communication Initiative and the C-Change project and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.