RESUMO
PIP: The nongovernmental Tanzania AIDS Project (TAP) has produced a behavior change resource package in conjunction with religious workers. The package contains a resource book, a teacher's book, and a flipchart. The package encourages collaboration between different types of nongovernmental organizations by distinguishing between the roles of the government and other groups in fighting HIV/AIDS. Users of the packet are encouraged to prevent HIV/AIDS by following one of three options: abstinence, fidelity, or condom use. Switching among options is presented as a necessary response to changes in personal circumstances. This package uses a flood to symbolize HIV/AIDS and three boats, "The Fleet of Hope," to symbolize the prevention options. Pretesting of the KiSwahili version revealed that the number of respondents with a low perception of personal risk increased after reading the book, 25% continued to believe that it is possible to identify an infected individual by their appearance, the number reporting engaging in risky behavior decreased, and 97% found the book enjoyable. Modifications were suggested to make the book more straightforward and effective. The pretest of the English version revealed that the materials made respondents feel that AIDS is dangerous, that they should not stay at risk, and that it is possible to avoid AIDS. TAP has used the package since mid-1994 in client counseling to promote condom use and in health educator training activities. Other institutions, including churches, promote the three options equally. Roman Catholic Bishops will not distribute the package but have adopted a policy of "tolerant silence" towards its use.^ieng
