Culture, community networks, and HIV/AIDS outreach opportunities in a south Indian Siddha organization.
BACKGROUND
Gandeepam is an NGO in rural south India, with an HIV prevalence rate estimated at 2-7 times the national average. Aside from several outreach programs, Gandeepam practices Siddha medicine.


OBJECTIVE
Evaluate Gandeepam's strengths and opportunities to promote HIV education.


METHODS
Three weeks of observing clinic practice, meeting patients, and discussing organizational structure. A survey of attitudes toward HIV was completed.


RESULTS
Gandeepam reaches a broad cross-section of its community, and effectively disseminates information. No primary HIV prevention efforts were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Current strengths include an established network for information dissemination, and a strong community reputation. Tremendous social obstacles for disseminating effective HIV prevention messages remain.
Baban
Kaylan
K
Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA. Kaylan.Baban@mssm.edu
Ikeda
Scott
S
Pooran
Deeangelee
D
Hennig
Nils
N
Indyk
Debbie
D
Sacks
Henry
H
Carter
George
G