HIV/AIDS Information Seeking and Healthcare Communications in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Sub-Saharan Africa is the hardest hit region in the world where AIDS threatens to decimate entire populations. Although the region has 10% of the world's population, it accounts for 63% of people living with HIV/AIDS. Of the estimated 2.1 million AIDS-related deaths in 2006, 72% of them were in Africa (UNAIDS/WHO, 2006). Although the epidemic has stabilized in the region, this means that the numbers of people who are newly affected with HIV are still roughly equivalent to the number of people who are dying from AIDS. Twenty-five years into the epidemic, there is still no cure for AIDS. Information remains our most crucial weapon in the war against the AIDS virus. But is the provision of information successful in combating this terrible disease? The results are mixed. There have been some successes, most notably in Uganda, where the prevalence of HIV/AIDS has dropped from estimates as high as 30% in some areas to as low as 5%. While a few other countries show some small gain in the fight against the disease, most continue to report increasing rates of new infections and deaths, despite the targeted efforts of information and communication campaigns. This paper provides an overview of the status of HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa. Health Behaviour Theories (HBTs) are examined and compared with information-seeking behaviour theories. The potential benefits and limitations of information and communications are examined in the fight against AIDS, focusing on the specific complexities of Sub-Saharan Africa. Considerations are proposed for HIV/AIDS information and communication campaigns in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]