Information vaccine: information and Uganda's reduction of HIV/AIDS

Abstract

The spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa over the last two decades has seriously impaired the continent's health care services and overall welfare. Unlike many other African nations, however, Uganda has developed and implemented a unique approach to combating this problem. Part of Uganda's success has been attributed to a formalized Information, Education and Communication (IEC) strategy, lowering estimated HIV/AIDS infection rates from 18.5% in 1995 to 4.1% in 2003. The purpose of this study is to understand how access to health care information contributed to Uganda's success. The types of information and dissemination methods offer an understanding of what information contributes to behavioral change and prevention of HIV/AIDS transmission. The results of this study are presented and discussed in light of their role in the overall strategy