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Abstract
Fortune-Tellers as a means of engendering AIDS education in India
R.R. William
Issues:
In India AIDS-education to target-communities is a major challenge. Education leading to behavioural-change towards safe-sex needs sustained efforts by closely accessible/ available trusted, confidential community-based resource-persons rather than staff and Peer-Educators(PEs). In India, Fortune-Tellers(FTs) form the frontliners.
Description:
FTs are those who tell the past, present, future of clients, both bad/good events, suggesting remedial measures. Predictions are using palmistry, astrology, problem-listening, spiritual means, interpreting visual expressions and using parrots to pick pre-written fortune-cards. With cultural and historic background still deeply rooted in Indian´s consciousness, irrespective of status - economical/educational/religion/sex. Indians at some point of time visit FTs. They operate in crowded places where sexworkers, migrants congregate. FTs are potential means of AIDS-information dissemination because of their perceived reverence-relevance.
Their willingness, capabilities and training-needs already assessed, now provided with training and a supportive-supervisory system. For the venture 58 responded to In-depth Interviews among 64. 78% consented, wanting one-day training with social-stigma, Myths/Misconceptions addressed. Knowledge-based-questions were answered correctly by less than 10%. 125 FTs were trained using participatory techniques for one-day and supervised for 6 months. A rapid-evaluation conducted November 2005 with randomly selected 25, every FT is educating 50 people–a-month during their professional contact - talking about STI, HIV/AIDS, safe-sex including condom-use efficiently.
Lessons learned:
Using FTs in AIDS program is mandatory as Indian community has absolute trust on FTs. They have excellent communication-skills and already share information on client’s sex and sexuality. They are willing to talk about AIDS but want effective training, after which they will educate clients under supportive-supervision, integrating AIDS education with their profession.
Recommendations:
All local resources have to be explored/exploited by AIDS initiative-implementers. Creatively aggressive local-methods help to reinforce messages and safeguard sustainable behaviour-changes in target-communities. FTs are one of such resource who could be effectively utilized as a complementary force to target community based Peer-Educators.
AIDS 2006 - XVI International AIDS Conference
Abstract no.
CDD1440
Suggested Citation
" R.R. William
Fortune-Tellers as a means of engendering AIDS education in India.
:
AIDS 2006 - XVI International AIDS Conference:
Abstract no.
CDD1440"
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