A successful workplace program for voluntary counseling and testing and treatment of HIV/AIDS at Heineken, Rwanda.
Heineken Breweries launched a workplace HIV/AIDS program at its Rwanda subsidiary in September 2001. By January 25, 2005, 736/2,595 eligible individuals had reported for counseling and HIV testing: 380/521 employees (72.9%), 254/412 spouses (61.7%), 99/1,517 children (6.5%), and 3/145 retired (2.0%). As a result, 109 HIV+ individuals were identified: 62 employees, 34 spouses, 12 children, and 1 retired. In September 2003 an anonymous HIV seroprevalence survey was performed with participation rates of 69.4% for employees, 58.2% for spouses, and 79.7% for adolescents. Using the survey result, the expected number of HIV+ employees was 71, which implies a program uptake of 87.1% (62/71) in this group. Of the identified 109 HIV+ beneficiaries, 42 were on highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART). In November 2003 a qualitative study of awareness and health-seeking behavior of the Heineken Rwanda beneficiaries identified key principles contributing to the success of this program.
Collier
Alizanne C
AC
Center for International Health and Development, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA. ffeeley@bu.edu
Van der Borght
Stefaan F M
SF
Rinke de Wit
Tobias
T
Rinke de Wit
Tobias F
TF
Richards
Sarah C
SC
Feeley
Frank G
FG
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D002648:Child; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D006266:Health Education; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012432:Rwanda / Q000453:epidemiology; D017132:Workplace