Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Prevent New Infections

Preventing new HIV infections will always be a main objective of any HIV/AIDS workplace programme. Prevention aims at changing behaviour and perceptions.

Cooperating companies make use of educational materials developed for their specific target groups, utilising existing communication channels and, where appropriate, new means of communication like emails or SMS messages as is the case in the company T-Systems.

Education offered by peers, from colleague to colleague, has proven itself to be a very successful training method. Trained peer educators explain how the HI-virus is transmitted and how one can protect oneself. The peer education approach can be extended and strengthened by events like storytelling, drama, or song as a means of communication.

The key messages of HIV prevention are:

Condom Promotion

The use of condoms is not appropriate for every person in every situation. However, for sexually active people it is still the best means of preventing infection. The social marketing of condoms combines modern product placement and advertisement with behaviour change messages. A number of non-governmental organisations offer social marketing of male and female condoms for a low fee. The female condom, especially designed for women, is inserted into the vagina and allows women to protect themselves from pregnancy and HIV infection.

Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT)

Knowing one’s own HIV status has been proven to increase people’s willingness to behave responsibly and thereby prevent the spread of HIV. Intensive pre-counselling and post-counselling must accompany HIV testing services. It is vital that the confidentiality of a VCT service is ensured and that the HIV tests meet the quality standards of the World Health Organization.

Other Issues Are Equally Important

Prevention activities should not only relate to HIV/AIDS, as people get bored when listening to the same contents over and over again. In order to react to changing workforce trends, peer educators’ activities and feedback have to be monitored continuously. As a result, most companies have started to broaden the content of the messages provided, moving away from solely addressing HIV, tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases towards providing more information on wellness in general, which includes aspects such as nutrition, family planning, alcohol and drug abuse and medical benefit schemes.

Peer Education Planning Guide for HIV/AIDS Workplace Programmes