M. Mehret et al., BASE-LINE FOR THE EVALUATION OF AN AIDS PROGRAM USING PREVENTION INDICATORS - A CASE-STUDY IN ETHIOPIA, Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 74(5), 1996, pp. 509-516
Strategies for preventing transmission of human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV) include ensuring that individuals have adequate knowledge of ho
w HIV infection can be prevented and encouraging behaviours that decre
ase risk of HIV infection. In addition, there is evidence that early a
nd appropriate management of other sexually transmitted disease is eff
ective in reducing HIV transmission. Programmes and projects promoting
prevention of HIV transmission should be evaluated periodically for t
heir effectiveness. Between March and September 1995, ten prevention i
ndicators developed by the WHO Global Programme on AIDS were used to e
stablish a baseline measure for evaluating the effectiveness of the Et
hiopian AIDS control programme. The indicators were measured using a s
tructured population survey through record review and key informants,
structured observation and interview in health care facilities, and th
rough a serosurvey among antenatal clinic attenders. The following res
ults were found: promoting knowledge of preventive practices was succe
ssful; a relatively high proportion of young male adults had sexual ri
sk behaviour; poor condom availability outside Addis Ababa, the capita
l; and very weak STD case management. The prevalence of syphilis and H
IV were 8.8% and 13.6%, respectively, among pregnant women aged 15-49
years. These results should serve as a baseline for repeat surveys to
assess the effectiveness of HIV prevention programmes in Ethiopia.