MPH2058 - Managing community-based HIV programs in developing countries

Leader: L Renkin

Offered

Alfred Hospital Second semester 2008 (On-campus block of classes)

Synopsis

This course is designed to enhance participant's knowledge about the risk and vulnerability of individuals and communities to HIV infection, and expand their skills in developing and managing a multi-sectoral response to the epidemic. The course will also cover the global epidemiology of HIV/AIDS, describe the relative successes of various approaches to the epidemic. Examine the elements of a HIV/AIDS situation analysis and identify key components of a community based response.
Topics covered are:

• Global epidemiology of HIV infection
• Basic facts about HIV: virology, transmission, effects on the immune system, new developments in treatments for HIV disease and vaccine development
• Underlying influences (social, cultural, economic, political, religious, legal, gender and age related) on HIV transmission
• The impact of HIV on community development, and the impact of development on HIV-related vulnerability
• Evolution of responses to HIV, including recent developments such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria and WHO's 3x5 initiative
• Analysis of the HIV/AIDS situation in a community
• Framework for developing a multisectoral community response to HIV/AIDS
• Human rights and HIV/AIDS, including the central role of people living with HIV in community-based responses
• Behaviour change for preventing HIV transmission
• Peer and community education for HIV prevention and care
• The role of testing and counselling in HIV prevention and care
• Injecting drug use and HIV/AIDS, with a focus on the harm reduction approach
• Sex work and HIV/AIDS
• Preventing HIV transmission through sex between men
• Parent-to-child transmission of HIV
• Children affected by HIV
• Care and support for people infected and affected by HIV
• Treatment issues: access to anti-retroviral therapy (ART), management of ART, treatment of opportunistic infections
• Engaging with faith based organisations to respond to HIV
• Monitoring and evaluating community-based HIV responses
• Management issues specific to HIV programs.

Objectives

The course aims to assist participants to:

1. Enhance their knowledge and understanding about HIV/AIDS and its impact on individuals and communities;
2. Understand the relationship between HIV/AIDS and economic development;
3. Develop skills in analysing the HIV/AIDS-related risk and vulnerability of communities;
4. Analyse the relative success of various approaches to the AIDS epidemic in different countries and develop an understanding of the need for an integrated, multisectoral approach to prevention, care and support for individuals and communities;
5. Identify essential elements of effective strategies for preventing HIV transmission and providing care and support for people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, including the integral role of people living with HIV/AIS in these strategies;
6. Improve knowledge of strategies for strengthening the capacity of communities to respond effectively to HIV/AIDS;
7. Provide practical information about developing, implementing and evaluating community-based responses to HIV/AIDS.

Assessment

Short-answer examination (40%) Essay 4,000 words (60%).

Contact hours

7 day intensive block

Prerequisites

Basic computer proficiency