AIDS prevention strategies for rural families in northeastern Thailand.

ABSTRACT

The project AIDS Prevention Strategies for Rural Families in Northeastern Thailand aimed to find effective strategies for AIDS education for rural families to promote non-risk behavior, non-discrimination while supporting care for individuals with HIV/AIDS in their families and in the community; to provide opportunities for family members, community leaders and HIV/AIDS organizations to cooperate, exchange ideas, and to participate in campaigns at the community level; and, to find appropriate media to improve the knowledge, understanding and awareness of HIV/AIDS among rural families. Data was collected through interviews by questionnaires, group discussions and in-depth interviews in two districts in the target province. A comparison of pre- and post test data analyzing knowledge of HIV transmission, AIDS prevention and treatment, attitudes and motivations, prevention behavior and women's empowerment all showed a significant improvement in all the above areas for the trial population.