Strategic Communication in the HIV/AIDS Epidemic

Book excerpt: The AIDS epidemic, a staggering challenge by any measure, becomes more complex every year. The global response to this epidemic has taken many forms, with information and communication playing an important role in most initiatives./-//-/According to the authors of this important book, strategic communication is a promising response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic since it combines a series of important elements and is designed to stimulate positive and measurable behavior change. After describing the key principles of this strategy, the authors elaborate on a wide range of important issues including:/-//-/ - The importance of advocacy and community mobilization/-/ - Comprehensive approaches to prevention and the use of communication in reducing stigma/-/ - Communication programs for a wide range of specific audiences including injecting drug users, men having sex with men, and people living in refugee settings/-/ - The role of communication in support of clinical and social services/-/ - The care and support of orphans and other vulnerable children/-/ - Selected communication approaches with considerable potential including entertainment-education, telephone hotlines and digital communication/-//-/In the last chapter, the authors outline some of the emerging challenges in combating HIV/AIDS while the appendix provides sources of further information and training courses.