Churches, mosques, and condoms: understanding successful HIV and AIDS interventions by faith-based organisations

Abstract

There are an estimated 33 million people living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) worldwide. While national education campaigns have been successful in providing a broad platform of awareness of HIV and AIDS, within some countries faith-based organisations (FBOs) have assumed an important role in educating and supporting local communities to reduce HIV transmission. This article conceptualises the successful characteristics of a Christian organisation in West Papua and a Muslim organisation in Thailand. The ability of both these FBOs to engage successfully with their communities on issues of sexual practice provides important lessons for other FBOs seeking to reduce HIV transmission.

Églises, mosques et préservatifs : comprendre les interventions fructueuses de lutte contre le VIH et le sida entreprises par les organisations d'inspiration religieuse

On estime à 33 millions le nombre de personnes qui vivent avec le virus de l'immunodéficience humaine (VIH) dans le monde. Bien que les campagnes d'éducation soient parvenues à fournir une plateforme large pour la prise de conscience du VIH et du sida, au sein de certains pays les organisations d'inspiration religieuse (OIR) ont assumé un rôle important au moment d'éduquer et d'aider les communautés locales à réduire la transmission du VIH. Le présent article conceptualise les caractéristiques efficaces d'une organisation chrétienne en Papouasie occidentaleet d'une organisation musulmane en Thaïlande. L'aptitude de ces deux OIR à dialoguer efficacement avec leurs communautés respectives sur les questions relatives aux pratiques sexuelles donne lieu à des leçons importantes pour d'autres OIR qui cherchent à réduire la transmission du VIH.

Igrejas, mesquitas e preservativos: entendendo as intervenções bem-sucedidas contra o HIV e AIDS de organizações baseadas na fé

Estima-se que existam 33 milhões de pessoas vivendo com o Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana (HIV) no mundo todo. Embora campanhas nacionais de educação tenham sido bem-sucedidas em oferecer uma ampla plataforma de conscientização sobre o HIV e a AIDS, em alguns países as Organizações Baseadas na Fé (FBOs) têm assumido um papel importante na educação e apoio às comunidades locais para reduzir a transmissão do HIV. Este artigo conceitualiza as características bem-sucedidas de uma organização cristã em Papua Ocidental e de uma organização muçulmana na Tailândia. A habilidade destas duas FBOs de interagir com sucesso com suas comunidades em relação a questões sobre prática sexual oferece lições importantes para outras FBOs que buscam reduzir a transmissão do HIV.

Iglesias, mezquitas y condones: análisis de campañas exitosas contra el VIH/SIDA realizadas por organizaciones basadas en la fe

Se estima que 33 millones de personas en el mundo son portadoras del Virus de Inmunodeficiencia Humana (VIH). Si bien las campañas gubernamentales de educación han dado buenos resultados en la difusión de información sobre VIH y SIDA, en algunos países las organizaciones basadas en la fe (OBF) han desempeñado un importante papel educativo y de apoyo a comunidades locales en la reducción de la transmisión del VIH. Este ensayo analiza las particularidades de campañas exitosas de dos organizaciones, una cristiana en Papúa Occidental y otra musulmana en Tailandia. Los buenos resultados de estas OBF en la difusión entre sus comunidades de temas relacionados con prácticas sexuales ofrecen claves importantes para otras OBF que buscan reducir la transmisión del VIH.

Keywords:

• Civil society
• Gender and diversity
• Social sector
• East Asia

Notes

Source: authors' own work (modified from World Bank 1999)

Source: authors' own work

This excludes the transmission from (generally) husband to wife, because sexually transmitted HIV cannot be introduced into a monogamous and faithful relationship. Transmission in this context requires one partner to have contracted the virus via one of the transmission modes discussed above.

Assuming that the FBO is of the religious majority for that particular country or region.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Matthew Clarke

Matthew Clarke (corresponding author) is Associate Professor and Course Director of the post-graduate International and Community Development programme in the School of International and Political Studies at Deakin University, Australia. His research includes development and religion, the Millennium Development Goals, aid effectiveness, and climate change. He regularly undertakes project evaluations for private and public aid agencies within the Asia–Pacific region.

Simone Charnley

Simone Charnley is a postgraduate student in the International and Community Development programme at Deakin University, Australia. She recently completed a lengthy internship in Thailand, working with a Muslim NGO.

Juliette Lumbers

Juliette Lumbers is a postgraduate student in the International and Community Development programme at Deakin University, Australia. She recently completed a lengthy internship within Indonesia (West Papua), working with a Christian NGO.