Training Community Leaders for hiv Prevention: Virus Knowledge and Perception in a Mining Context in Colombia

Abstract

The study, based on the principles of qualitative research and social sciences, implemented and evaluated a rapid intervention for the prevention of hiv in mining contexts, which prioritized the training of community leaders. During a period of five months we trained ten leaders, who trained as well a group of 277 inhabitants, including miners and non miners. As a result we observed changes in the level of knowledge and perceptions about hiv. None of the 183 persons tested for hiv —rapid test— was reactive. We found important gaps in the knowledge about hiv combined with misconceptions about the infection in miners and non miners. We conclude that training of community leaders strengths community participation, health promotion and local capacity to prevent hiv in communities.