Evaluation of HIV/AIDS prevention resources in Liberia: strategy and implications.
The purpose of this preliminary study was to assess the HIV/AIDS prevention needs, services, and resources in Liberia, including the readiness of local providers to conduct HIV/AIDS-related prevention programs based on a set of six key dimensions (prevention needs, knowledge, leadership, environment, risky behaviors, and resources). A valid self-administered qualitative-based health survey, based on a community readiness model, was utilized as the primary data collection source. A cross-sectional design that utilized a convenient sample of key informants such as health coordinators, program directors, and health administrator from both public and private HIV/AIDS-based organizations was used. Furthermore, an extensive review of the National Library of Medicine database of published articles from mid-1980 to 2002 was simultaneously conducted to gauge the extent of scientific publications on HIV/AIDS-related prevention services in Liberia. The findings from this study strongly suggest that Liberia is in a stage of vague awareness, as defined by the Tri-Ethnic Center community readiness framework, regarding HIV/AIDS-related activities, including a significant lack of HIV/AIDS-related resources and scientific publications. Accordingly, there is a critical need to acquire adequate resources and build capacity to implement effective HIV/AIDS-related prevention programming services in order to avert the negative public health consequences associated with HIV/AIDS, including the implementation of relevant evaluation and dissemination strategies. Most importantly, this model has the potential to be utilized in other resource-constraint settings, especially in the developing world, to assess prevention-related resources and programmatic readiness. This is the first published study to evaluate Liberia's HIV/AIDS prevention resources and to systematically document the extent and magnitude of the HIV/AIDS crises in the country.
Kennedy
Stephen B
SB
Pacific Institute for Research & Evaluation, Louisville Center, Louisville, Kentucky 40208, USA. kennedy@pire.org
Johnson
Knowlton
K
Harris
Albert O
AO
Lincoln
Adams
A
Neace
William
W
Collins
David
D
D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006284:Health Plan Implementation; D006295:Health Resources; D006801:Humans; D007988:Liberia; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*