The Population Council’s Horizons program conducts operations research to identify the most effective and affordable HIV/AIDS programs for prevention, care, and treatment in developing countries. Findings from this practical type of research enable the U.S. government and HIV/AIDS program managers around the world to improve the response to this catastrophic pandemic, saving lives and helping affected families while making every dollar spent count. Horizons is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Operations research involves five basic steps:
- Problem identification and diagnosis
- Strategy selection
- Strategy experimentation and evaluation
- Information dissemination
- Results utilization
Horizons studies take various forms
- Diagnostic studies to determine why some HIV/AIDS programs are not achieving optimal success in service delivery.
- Intervention studies to determine the most effective and affordable ways to solve problems and improve services. Researchers test new approaches to changing behavior and new ways to design and deliver services.
- Evaluation studies to examine the impact or long-term practicality of the methods established by intervention studies or to determine whether they can be successfully expanded or adapted to new sites.
 | Young Zambians attending a workshop where they learn to care for people living with HIV/AIDS. Mobilizing communities to provide such support is an important strategy in responding to the epidemic and helps emphasize the importance of prevention.
Photo credit: Mutale Chumba |
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In planning and carrying out every study, Horizons researchers work closely with local program managers, community- and faith-based groups, individuals affected by HIV/ AIDS, health agencies, and policymakers. These strong working relationships with those who have most at stake help focus efforts on the most pressing programmatic issues and help ensure that the final recommendations are feasible and acceptable.
The research cycle does not end when all data are analyzed. Horizons is committed to communicating the results of its research globally and to sharing recommendations for using the information through publications, academic journals, stakeholder workshops and meetings, and the Internet. For example, at last summer’s international AIDS conference in Barcelona, Horizons researchers made dozens of presentations about the program’s studies.
HIV voluntary counseling and testing
In Kenya, an assessment of HIV voluntary counseling and testing facilities in Nairobi, requested by the USAID Mission and the Kenya National AIDS Control Program, led to the establishment of a model center for training and research and the creation of 45 voluntary counseling and training centers throughout the country. The Kenyan government has used study findings to develop guidelines and has made a commitment to establishing counseling and training centers in district hospitals.
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Many families worldwide are gravely threatened by the epidemic; in sub-Saharan Africa alone, there are more than 11 million AIDS orphans. A Horizons study found that orphan-support programs are more beneficial when they reach families before parents die.
Photo credit: Laelia Gilborn |
Family and community support
In Uganda, a Horizons study suggests that children of HIV-positive parents benefit when orphan-support programs help the family— before parents die—with counseling, preparing wills, and choosing future guardians. This approach has since been identified as a “Global Best Practice” by UNAIDS. The findings have prompted such international organizations as PLAN and Save the Children to expand their use of this approach into other African countries.
HIV/AIDS prevention for youth
In Mexico, Horizons researchers evaluated a school-based prevention program that used a curriculum covering abstinence, faithfulness to one partner, and condom use. The program’s success has prompted the Mexican Ministry of Health to expand it to 40 more high schools.
Treatment
In South Africa, an intervention study in a mining area led to a new partnership that involved the mining company, a nongovernmental organization, a community board, and the local health department. After the study ended, this partnership continued to provide services to treat sexually transmitted infections and educate the community about HIV/AIDS.
| About Horizons Horizons is a research collaboration directed by the Population Council with six partners: • International Center for Research on Women
• Tulane University
• International HIV/AIDS Alliance
• Family Health International
• Program for Appropriate Technology in Health
• Johns Hopkins University More information about Horizons |
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