Faith-based organisations and HIV prevention in Africa : a review
Date
2013-05
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AOSIS Publishing
Abstract
Background: Faith-based organisations (FBOs) are potentially an important role-player in
HIV prevention, but there has been little systematic study of their potential strengths and
weaknesses in this area.
Objectives: To identify the strengths and weaknesses of FBOs in terms of HIV prevention. The
questions posed were, (1) ‘What is the influence of religion on sexual behaviour in Africa?’,
and (2) ‘What are the factors that enable religion to have an influence on sexual behaviour?’.
Method: A literature search of Medline, SABINET, Africa Wide NIPAD and Google Scholar
was conducted.
Results: The potential for Faith-based organisations to be important role-players in HIV
prevention is undermined by the church’s difficulties with discussing sexuality, avoiding
stigma, gender issues and acceptance of condoms. It appears that, in contrast with high-income
countries, religiosity does not have an overall positive impact on risky sexual behaviour in
Africa. Churches may, however, have a positive impact on alcohol use and its associated risky
behaviour, as well as self-efficacy. The influence of the church on sexual behaviour may also be
associated with the degree of social engagement and control within the church culture.
Conclusion: Faith-based organisations have the potential to be an important role player in terms
of HIV prevention. However, in order to be more effective, the church needs to take up the
challenge of empowering young women, recognising the need for their sexually-active youth
to use protection, reducing judgemental attitudes and changing the didactical methods used.
Description
CITATION: Mash, R. & Mash, R. 2013. Faith-based organisations and HIV prevention in Africa: A review. African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine, 5(1): 1-6, doi: 10.4102/phcfm.v5i1.464.
The original publication is available at http://www.phcfm.org
The original publication is available at http://www.phcfm.org
Keywords
Church and social problems -- Africa, HIV infections -- Africa -- Prevention, Unsafe sex -- Africa -- Prevention, Safe sex in AIDS prevention -- Africa
Citation
Mash, R. & Mash, R. 2013. Faith-based organisations and HIV prevention in Africa: A review. African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine, 5(1): 1-6, doi: 10.4102/phcfm.v5i1.464