Information realities of HIV/AIDS information in Sub‐Saharan Africa: Barriers and challenges to information professionals
Kingo J. Mchombu, Rosemary Kabugo, Renee Schoombee, Modou Fall Sall, Kendra Albright · Proceedings of the American Society for Information Science and Technology · 2006
Information is a key weapon in the battle against HIV/AIDS. Sub-Saharan Africa is the hardest hit region of the world in terms of HIV/AIDS. With slightly over 10% of the world's population, Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 64% of the people living with HIV/AIDS and 77% of the deaths from AIDS in 2005 (UNAIDS, 2006). In response to the AIDS pandemic, policies are being developed in many African countries focusing on information, education, and communication (IEC) strategies as a means of prevention. Through the widespread dissemination of HIV/AIDS information, the people of Sub-Saharan Africa can gain the knowledge needed to change their behavioral response to the AIDS epidemic. Libraries can play a central role in the provision of HIV/AIDS information. Libraries in Sub-Saharan Africa, however, are constrained by a number of factors that may limit their involvement in HIV/AIDS information dissemination. They face obstacles including a society based on oral tradition, illiteracy, a limited awareness and understanding of the information needs of people in Sub-Saharan societies, and scarce resources. This panel brings together African scholars involved in the role of information in fighting HIV/AIDS. Dr. Mchombu is an authority on information and rural development in Africa; Ms. Kabugo is the District Liaison Officer for the Uganda AIDS Commission; Ms. Schoombee is a librarian and researcher at the University of South Africa; and Mr. Modou Fall Sall directs the Information and Documentation Center/African AIDS Research Network in Dakar, Senegal. Together they will examine the information realities facing library and information professionals in Sub-Saharan Africa regarding HIV/AIDS. The panel will discuss the role of libraries in the dissemination of HIV/AIDS information. Questions will be addressed including: What lessons can be learned from the successes that have been reported in Sub-Saharan Africa that might be attributed to the role of information, education, and communication in the prevention of HIV/AIDS? What role does or should technology play in a society based on oral tradition? In what ways does the oral tradition facilitate the flow of information within African societies? What are the differences in approach to information dissemination across cultures in Africa? Is it possible to translate information into behavior change? Are there other areas of information awareness that we should target besides prevention? Professor Mchombu will address issues of HIV/AIDS prevention and the role of technology in an oral society. HIV and AIDS prevention is heavily dependent on access to the right information and at the right time for the various groups at risk of HIV infection. The application of information is important in behaviour change of the various groups who at risk of infection or taking care of relatives and patients who are suffering from HIV and AIDS. Here we have to include groups such as: those on Anti-retroviral medication, HIV positive women who are pregnant so as to prevent mother to child infection, and care givers who need to take of sick patients without being infected. It is important to understand that HIV and AIDS is more than a health problem - it touches all aspects of life; one needs information on good nutrition, care of children whose parents have died of AIDS, legal information on issues of inheritance, and property rights of widows for example are all becoming very important. Another aspect is that accurate information on HIV is needed by the general public so as to address issues of stigma which are fuelled by low levels of understanding of how HIV spreads in society. Certainly the role of women in developing society needs to be better understood so as to address gender issues which fuel the spread of HIV and AIDS. In short the role of information in combating HIV and AIDS is much more complex than previously believed. The role of technology in societies based on oral tradition is to facilitate access to information which can be shared among members of groups and networks (2 step flow of information approach) in order for groups which would be isolated to access the most current information to address the problems of HIV and AIDS. Oral traditions make it easier to share knowledge in Africa as people are members of multiple networks. thus information travels faster because of the socialization patterns. Essentially, one needs to appreciate the outdoor nature of life in Africa and how people talk freely and easily with each other. These are all resources which can be used in the fight against HIV and AIDS - we do not always have to view culture in negative terms and ignore any positive contribution that culture can make to the fight against the spread of HIV and AIDS. Ms. Kabugo will examine the role of information, education, and communication (IEC) in raising HIV/AIDS awareness in Uganda. She will examine the ways in which IEC has contributed to the reduction of stigma and miscommunication. In addition, Ms. Kabugo examines the ways in which technology is able enhance the performance of information activities within an oral society. Technology plays many roles, even in a country like Uganda. In Ugandan society, by comparison to other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, if we assume that all factors could be held constant (e.g., infrastructure, reading culture, etc.) then it is likely that technology would facilitate the transmission of information, enhancing the awareness raising and subsequent dialog about HIV/AIDS. However, all factors may not be held constant which raises more questions: How would technology support countries like Uganda and influence information strategies? How would it respond to and facilitate the desired changes? But there are challenges that we face throughout society, in different sectors that determine the success of using technology. Technology can enhance those activities which utilize existing resources. If you have technology, you may perform better. But factors that fall in the middle within your setting that would hinder your ability to perform even better if you had technology. On the other hand, there are challenges that hinder this technology. It's not a question of whether technology makes things better or worse, it's the circumstances that dictate its successful implementation. The oral tradition within Uganda refers to the patterns that are used to seek information and talk about different things. This process was in existence before the problem of AIDS so it was a natural process that has been utilized to facilitate the flow of HIV/AIDS information in Uganda. The highest level of authority in Uganda, the President, initiated the use of oral transmission of information beginning with his open discussion about AIDS. He asked what each of us can do, beginning with himself and telling his own experience. So the highest level of authority is open about it, then a dialog is started. Common patterns of communication within society are then used to create dialog about different topics among different age groups, are the means that have been adopted. These methods of communication were already in existence were adapted to the AIDS issue within our community. In cultures elsewhere in Sub-Saharan Africa, approaches to HIV/AIDS information vary from country to country. The dialog that has been created in Uganda has been an important part of its success. It has been successful in situations where more awareness of the disease has been created. In Uganda, dialog contributed so much to awareness. It goes back to IEC which has lead to awareness and to results such as reduced stigma. In situations where there is not so much dialog, the chance of discrimination and stigma is high. Dialog has not really been something that has been widely adopted by other African countries. Mass media, e.g., radio, magazines, and postcards for example, are useful tools for people living with HIV/AIDS to talk about their problems. A question, a question that needs to be addressed is how can we translate levels of awareness into behavior change? Library-created programmes about AIDS, including forums and television productions, exhibits, and distribution of free AIDS material in selected library centers; Cooperative programme development with outside social agencies including staff training workshops, preparation of bibliographies, guides and reviews, and providing review and examination services, community information file development, maintenance and referrals; The development and maintenance of special AIDS libraries, centers, and collections. What is the social role and responsibility of community libraries towards the promotion of HIV/AIDS awareness? What interventions can be used by community libraries to increase HIV/AIDS awareness? - To make AARN's Information and Documentation Center a frame of communication and liaison between national AIDS control programs, donors, NGOs and associations; - To establish a mechanism for improved coordination of HIV/AIDS research results dissemination in Africa and elsewhere; - Produce adequate information tools, destined to broad dissemination among the persons and organizations involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS; - Increase utilization of research results achieved by the Horizons Program in Africa with a view to sharing experiences. Youths and HIV/AIDS Behavioral Change Gender and HIV/AIDS Community mobilization and commitment Sexually transmitted infections Barrier methods to prevent STIs/HIV Care and Support Voluntary Counseling and Testing Men who have sex with other men in Senegal (research summary) Professional translators were selected by AARN for the translation into French of the 8 selected publications. Copies of each publication were distributed at the International Conference on AIDS and STDs held in Ouagadougou from 9-13 December 2001. In 2002, the publications were electronically disseminated using AARN electronic mailing list of researchers, journalists, policymakers, programs managers, and community actors. Paper copies were disseminated through postal services to individuals and organizations in Senegal, Africa, Europe, and the USA. All documents were put online in June 2002, and can be accessed at the following AARN website address: www.refer.sn/rars. Based on the results and project evaluation, new questions have arisen that will be posed to the panel and audience. What are the issues in disseminating information in a diverse culture? How effective are these materials in raising awareness?