HIV and AIDS
Policy Development

HIV and AIDS programs must expand beyond attempts to influence individual behavior change and address sociocultural, political, and economic constraints to HIV prevention and care.

Programs aimed at behavior change among individuals have demonstrated an impact, but to stem HIV transmission on a larger scale and achieve long-term maintenance of changed behavior, community- and structural-level programs are a critical complement. Interventions must address several levels: individuals, couples, families, community groups and institutions, and the legal policy environment. The Population Council has supported the following study activities designed to influence the policy environment.

• Data Utilization in Indonesia
  The Council supported efforts to enhance use of data in HIV and AIDS policy and program development and management at the province level. The emphasis of this work is on strengthening the capacity of key institutions to conduct behavioral surveillance and to use surveillance data in program planning and decisionmaking.
• Evaluating and Accrediting Workplace AIDS Programs in Thailand
  Researchers aimed to develop an accreditation system for workplace AIDS programs and evaluate the extent to which the accreditation system, when linked to adjustments in group life insurance rates, results in strengthened workplace AIDS programs of participating companies. Working in collaboration with the Thai Business Coalition on AIDS (TBCA), Horizons researchers helped to develop effective workplace HIV and AIDS programs and policies in over 100 participating companies. Both the TBCA and the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare plan to scale up this model to 25 provinces in Thailand with support from the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. The TBCA is also using the materials and ideas developed in this project to implement projects in the Asia region with its sister organization, the Asian Business Coalition on AIDS.
• Assisting Program Managers in Allocating HIV and AIDS Resources
  With support from Horizons, the Futures Group developed and tested in the field a computer-based model designed to help HIV and AIDS program managers make more effective resource allocation decisions. A number of managers in Africa and Asia have begun using the new model. Also with support from Horizons, the International HIV/AIDS Alliance held an international seminar that focused on the program scaling-up process.

Additional Projects

• Horizons projects

  • Burkina Faso: Impact Assessment of Burkina Faso People Living with HIV/AIDS Study

  • Burkina Faso, Ecuador, India, Zambia: Diagnostic Study on the Involvement of People Living with HIV/AIDS in the Delivery of Community-based Prevention and Care Services

  • Dominican Republic: Evaluation of a 100-Percent Condom Use Policy in Sex Establishments

  • India: Reducing HIV Risk Behavior Among Key Populations by Strengthening Programs Through Community Involvement

  • India: Scaling Up Affordable and Appropriate Care and Support Services for People Living with HIV/AIDS in South India

  • Kenya: Preparedness of Health Workers to Implement Diagnostic HIV Testing and Counseling and Provide Comprehensive AIDS Management

  • Kenya and Zambia: Putting Food on the Table: An Exploration of Livelihood Strategies and Their Role in Maintaining Nutritional Status Among Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy

  • Madagascar: Comparison of Two STI Treatment and Prevention Interventions Among Sex Workers in Madagascar

  • Malawi: A Retrospective Assessment of the COPE 1 Program in Namwera, Mangochi District, Malawi

  • Nepal: Intervention Needs for the Prevention of Trafficking and the Care and Support of Trafficked Persons in Nepal

  • South Africa: Adding Emerging STI/HIV Issues to Family Planning and Antenatal Care: Situation Analysis in KwaZulu-Natal

  • South Africa: Addressing Stigma and Strengthening Prevention, Care, and Support Services for Workers

  • South Africa: Different Models of Delivering Antiretroviral Therapy and Integration with Tuberculosis Services in South Africa: A Situation Analysis

  • Thailand: An Assessment of the Provision of Antiretroviral Drugs to Persons Living with HIV and AIDS in Northern Thailand

  • Thailand: Evaluation and Accreditation of Workplace AIDS Programs

  • Thailand: Reducing Drop-outs and Increasing Adherence Rates Among People Living with HIV/AIDS on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy in Northern Thailand

  • Vietnam: Expanding Workplace HIV/STI Prevention Activities for Migrant Construction Workers
  • Vietnam: Reducing HIV/AIDS-related Stigma and Discrimination in the Health Care Setting in Vietnam
  • Zambia: Caring for Health Workers: Addressing Psychosocial Burden of HIV/AIDS on Health Personnel in Zambia

  • Global: Cost-effectiveness Tools for Assisting HIV/AIDS Program Managers in Making Resource-allocation Decisions

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See Also

• Horizons Publications/Resources on HIV/AIDS Policy Development    

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