Nganga P; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 2002 Jul 7-12; 14: abstract no. TuPeF5320.

Kenya

BACKGROUND: With the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Kenya,a lot has been done to try cut down the infection rate. Unfortunately some of the direct methods envisaged have come unstuck owing to our conservative culture. Influence by religious groups has seen the topic of sex education in schools become a non starter. METHODS: To compliment these direct approaches, a subtle and more indirect method of spreading awareness of HIV/AIDS is needed. Even with the 70 percent literacy rate, majority of Kenyans do not proactively read. There is need to disseminate such information using items that they will come into daily contact with. The matchbox is one of the most used items in any Kenyan household today. It matters not the income group. Women traditionally have the role of the kitchen affairs. It can be comfortably said that each household uses a matchbox at least thrice a day, with a box lasting two weks. Add to that the high number of smokers. The idea here is to distribute messages (both pictorial and worded) on the matchboxes. Two ways can be adopted; 1; the matchbox companies can, for a small fee, incorporate the message, or 2; matchboxes can be manufactured and distributed free of charge to various households. Boy do we love free things! These matcboxes will have AIDS awareness messages on them. This will create a situation whereby the message is always there, in all households, regardless of religious convictions or conservatism. A sure and subtle way of disseminating information. RESULTS. The average cost of a matchbox is Kenya Shillings three (equivalent to 3 US cents). With 6 pax per household, it gives us 5 million households. With free distribution of matchboxes, it means that for 200 000 US dollars, all households in Kenya can get the message. CONCLUSION: It is said that if you read or see it many times, then it dawns on you. Thus as people light up their cooking fires or house lamps or even their cigarettes, let the message be there.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Female
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Humans
• Income
• Infection
• Kenya
• Light
• Male
• Organizations
• Phototherapy
• Prevalence
• Schools
• Sex Education
• education
• organization & administration

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0019602

UI: 102257100

From Meeting Abstracts