Incorporating AIDS prevention activities into a family planning organization in Colombia.

ABSTRACT

PIP: PROFAMILIA, a private family planning agency in Colombia, conducted an operations research (OR) project designed to explore the use of 3 AIDS prevention activities. The 3 activities includes the use family planning workers to deliver informative talks on AIDS, the establishment of condom distribution posts in places frequented by high-risk groups (homosexuals, prostitutes, soldiers, and prison inmates), and the use of mass-media educational campaigns. A total of 59 in June of 1987, the number of reported AIDS cases in Colombia increased to 474 by 1988. Recognizing the lack of activity on AIDS prevention, PROFAMILIA decided to explore education strategies. Some of the questions and concerns included: 1) How much need is there for AIDS and STD information among typical PROFAMILIA clients (mostly women of reproductive age and adolescents)? 2) How much effort would AIDS-related activities demand from field workers? 3) Would these activities disrupt contraceptive sales? 4) Would field workers be accepted by the target groups, and would they be able to convey the message and establish condom distribution posts? And 5) would a mass media campaign be effective? The study revealed that a great demand for AIDS information exists among PROFAMILIA's typical clients, as well as the fact that these services do not disrupt field workers' other activities, including condom sales. Although field workers were able to deliver the information to the target groups, they had difficulty attracting many members of high-risk groups to the informative talks. Furthermore, the sales of condoms at distribution posts were low. But the mass media campaigns were found to be highly effective in disseminating AIDS information.