HAPA [HIV/AIDS prevention in Africa] grant : final evaluation report -- 'training of trainers for AIDS education' : Save the Children/Zimbabwe Field Office, September 1, 1989-August 31, 1991

Most project objectives were achieved. Specifically: 97% of rural health center staff and all three Ministry of Cooperatives and Community Development (MCCD) officers received 5 days of HIV/AIDS prevention training; 95% of Village Community Workers (VCWs) and Farm Health Workers (FHWs) attended at least 3 days of training of trainers (TOT) workshops, and 93% attended at least one 1-day refresher course; and at least 2 days of HIV/AIDS education were provided to 526 community leaders. In addition, the VCWs/FHWs trained 4,640 families, or 76% of the three impact areas; 91% of the VCWs/FHWs were able to demonstrate the proper use of a condom on a model; 86% were able to name the three main modes of HIV transmission; and 96% were able to give three methods of preventing HIV/AIDS transmission. Data from the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices household survey conducted in two of the three impact areas showed that 87% of men and 85% of women surveyed correctly identified the three main modes of HIV/AIDS transmission, and an average of 34% of men and 37% of women could state three or more ways to prevent transmission. The following lessons were learned. (1) An HIV/AIDS education project of 2 years' duration is insufficient to affect attitude and behavioral changes. (2) The effectiveness and sustainability of the HIV and AIDS Prevention in Africa (HAPA) project was enhanced by its high degree of integration into the existing child survival health program and Ministry of Health structure. (3) VCWs/FHWs and community leaders are the two keys to providing effective community-based HIV/AIDS education. The VCWs/FHWs are the direct conduit for HIV/AIDS information to families, while community leaders play a crucial role in creating awareness of and support for the efforts of the VCWs/FHWs. (4) Condoms remain the best method to prevent sexual transmission of HIV/AIDS.