Civil society organisations and HIV/AIDS: A case of Iringa district, Tanzania.
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Date
2008
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
This study was designed to determine the role of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in
combating HIV/AIDS in Iringa District. Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Faith
Based Organisations (FBOs) and Community Based Organisations (CBOs) were selected
for the study. Specifically, the study aimed at identifying the HIV/AIDS thematic areas in
which the CSOs were engaged; the institutional management structure of CSOs; the
CSO’s achievements; the challenges faced by CSOs and at determining people’s attitude
towards CSOs addressing HIV/AIDS. A cross sectional survey was employed where by
both structured and non-structured interviews were used to collect data. Purposive
sampling method was used to obtain CSOs that implemented HIV/AIDS interventions
whereas stratified sampling method was used to get 18 NGOs, 6 FBOs and 6 CBOs to
constitute the sample of 30 CSOs that were interviewed. The collected data were analysed
using SPSS computer software where descriptive statistics and cross tabulation were used
in presenting the study results. HIV/AIDS interventions implemented by CSOs were in
four thematic areas namely awareness raising, impact mitigation, capacity building and
HIV voluntary counselling and testing. HIV/AIDS impact mitigation was the intervention
implemented by most of the sampled CSOs (41.8% of responses). However CBOs unlike
FBOs and NGOs engaged mostly in HIV prevention through awareness raising. Despite of
limited monitoring of CSOs’ activities by the government, community members have
positive attitude towards CSOs addressing HIV/AIDS issues with the views that the
government could not manage to implement all aspects of HIV/AIDS. CSOs’
interventions were affected by limited funding whereby 41.5% of sampled CSOs’
responses indicated that they relied on external funding. It is recommended that the
government (both central and local government authorities) has to formulate an integrated
programme of implementation together with a monitoring and evaluation system ofiii
HIV/AIDS interventions for effective multisectoral approach towards combating the
epidemic.
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Thesis
Keywords
Civil society, HIV/AIDS, Community Based Organisations, Non Governmental Organisations