Effectiveness of IEC interventions in reducing HIV/AIDS related stigma among high school adolescents in Hawassa, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Abstract
Background: Stigma and discrimination are among the major challenges in HIV/AIDS to disease prevention while
IEC interventions are among the mechanisms to mitigate them.
Objective: To determine the effectiveness of IEC interventions.
Methods: Interventional study was conducted from January to March 2007 among high school adolescents in Awassa
Town using four different IEC interventions namely; interpersonal communication, pamphlets, educational video and
the combination of the three interventions.
Results: Stigmatizing attitudes ranged from 0-65.2%. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed grade, religion,
beliefs in HIV transmission by witchcraft and HIV transmission by feeding on uncooked egg/meat of chicken that
swallowed used condom were independent predictors of avoidant behavioral intentions. Residence, fathers’ education,
television ownership, witchcraft transmission, healthy looking person can have HIV, HIV prevention by having sex
with virgin girls and PLWHA with multiple sexual partners were found to be the main determinants of coercive
attitude. ANOVA (F-statistics) revealed that the interventions were effective with and statistics=17.484 (pvalue<
0.0001).
Conclusion: Misconceptions on HIV transmission and prevention, stigmatizing and discriminatory attitudes were
prevalent among the adolescents. Remarkable reduction in HIV related misconceptions, stigmatizing and
discriminatory attitudes were observed. Hence, campaigns using combined IEC interventions on HIV/AIDS need to be
intensified to dispel some of the prevailing misconceptions and associated stigma and discrimination among school
adolescents. [Ethiop.J.Health Dev. 2008;22(3):232-242]