The Role of Information in Uganda’s Reduction of HIV/AIDS: individual perceptions of HIV/AIDS information

Abstract

The prevalence of AIDS in Uganda has decreased from 18.5 percent in 1995 to less than 6 percent in 2003. A multisectoral strategy to disseminate HIV/AIDS information throughout society has been credited, in part, for this success. This paper presents the results of interviews with individuals regarding their knowledge of AIDS from different sources of information. The results suggest that personal sources of information through informal channels most likely contributed to behavioral change. With the exception of information transmitted via radio, information and communication technologies (ICTs) were not considered to play an important role in the dissemination of HIV/AIDS information.