BLIND SPOTS AND WASTED EFFORT IN CARIBBEAN HIV/AIDS POLICY MAKING: Communication and behaviour change

Authors

  • Marjan de Bruin

Abstract

The Caribbean region faces daunting challenges from HIV/AIDS: it is the region with the second highest HIV/AIDS infection rate in the world, HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death among adults between 15 and 44, and almost two decades after the first case was diagnosed, concerted action has failed to halt or even slow the pandemic. Experts in the region are beginning to realize that their HIV/AIDS prevention efforts, in which communication plays a crucial role, have not been very successful. As in many other parts of the world –in spite of a general high level of knowledge about HIV/AIDS transmission among some of the prime risk groups– desirable changes away from risk-taking sexual behaviour are not happening.

Author Biography

Marjan de Bruin

Marjan de Bruin has been Director of the Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication (University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica) since 2002. A leading member of the University's HIV/AIDS Response Programme, she has presented many papers on Communication and HIV/AIDS. Born in the Netherlands, she was a social worker, management trainer, journalist and editor before moving to Jamaica in 1987.

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Published

2006-06-01

Issue

No. 4 (2006)

Section

Articles