Revista de SIDA e investigación clínica

Overcoming Communication Barriers in HIV Prevention among In- School People with Disability (PWD) In Ekiti State - A Case of the Hearing Impaired and Visually Impaired Population

Abstract

Doherty C, Ajayi R and Ajumobi Y

People with disability are at significant risk of becoming Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infected due to various factors including lack of education and resources to ensure safe sex, risk of violence and rape, stigma and lack of legal protection amongst others. Situation analysis of HIV prevention intervention amongst in-school PWD in the three specials schools in the state show that 48% of the total populations in these schools are hearing impaired, 16% visually impaired and 6% intellectually impaired. To this end, Ekiti State AIDS Control Agency with the funding of the World Bank and in collaboration with a Community Based Organizations (Eyelosun) carried out a two year intervention programme targeted at reaching the PWD population with HIV prevention services. The project community Entry phase activities included Issue Based Advocacy, Selection and Training of PWDs as peer educators, Community dialogue, Interpersonal Communication and Focused Group Discussions. Age peers’ education approach was used to build the capacity of PWDs on HIV prevention. Peer Education manual and IEC materials were produced in Braille and sign language (target group specific communication materials) to ease communication barriers. Thirty five able teachers with specialization in Braille and sign languages were selected and trained as Peer Educator Trainers (Training of Trainers TOT) and 25 PWDs (hearing and visually impaired) were selected and trained by the trained teachers to carry out peer education using the Braille and sign language manuals. The use of Braille and Sign language HIV prevention specific materials to communicate with PWD improved their understanding and knowledge of HIV/AIDS with 80% increase in HIV Counseling and Testing (HCT) uptake and other HIV services. There was active participation of PWD in all the structural interventions including Community dialogues and Anti-AIDS club. However, the intellectually impaired, who are highly sexually active and at risk of HIV remain a neglected population due to communication challenge.