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Society for Family Health
PSI/Caribbean
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Program
Focus: |
HIV/AIDS |
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Target
Regions: |
Caribbean region, specifically the countries
of Antigua/Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Maarten,
St. Kitts/Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and
Trinidad and Tobago |
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Target
Population: |
High risk sexually active populations including men who have
sex with men, commercial sex workers, men in uniform and youth
in difficult circumstances
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Products and Services: |
PSI/Caribbean works with regional and local commercial condom
distributors to expand the existing commercial condom market.
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Local
Collaboration: |
SFH works closely with National
AIDS Programs, National AIDS Committees and local NGOs in the participating
countries. |
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Current
Donors: |
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
The Government of Trinidad & Tobago
Pan Caribbean Partnership Against AIDS unit of CARICOM/ The Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
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| Year Program Began: |
2005
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Project Activities and Highlights
With an overall HIV prevalence of 1.6% among adults, the Caribbean
is the hardest-hit region in the world outside of sub-Saharan Africa.
To combat the spread of HIV in (primarily the Eastern) Caribbean, PSI
promotes safer sex practices among high risk populations by increasing
access to affordable condoms, decreasing barriers to their use and
enhancing local capacity for HIV prevention in the region.
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HIV/AIDS
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Condom social marketing
PSI has partnered with regional and local commercial condom distributors
to expand condom availability to non-traditional outlets such
as bars, clubs, grocers and barbershops, and brand these outlets
with the project’s logo, "Got it? Get it." Displaying the Got
it? Get it. logo at any establishment signifies that condoms
are
being sold in a non-judgmental environment. Trained promotion
agents sensitize retailers about HIV, condoms and why it is important
that youth and women are able to purchase “protection” without
feeling judged. TV and radio spots have been developed and are
being aired in participating countries that promote the meaning
of Got it? Get it. |
| • |
Behavior Change Communication (BCC)
PSI has developed a BCC campaign for TV, radio and print media
that complements the Got it? Get it. campaign. The campaign addresses
three main barriers to condom use in the Caribbean: embarrassment
about buying condoms, risk perception for contracting HIV and how
trusting one’s partner leads to not using a condom. Ads encourage
introspection, influence choice and target by gender and empower
the target groups. PSI has also developed a DJ network with local
radio personalities who promote the benefits of condom use and
the meaning of Got it? Get it.
PSI is currently partnering with MTVN “TEMPO” to produce a mini-drama
series of short vignettes that highlight situations common to Caribbean
youth where they need to make choices that could impact their health. |
| • |
Peer Education
Through alliances with National AIDS Programs and local NGOs,
PSI has identified and trained a team of peer and health educators
around the region to implement educational modules designed to
effectively reach high risk population with prevention messages.
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