Faith in Action: Examining the Role of Faith-Based Organizations in Addressing HIV/AIDS

Published by the Global Health Council, this 12-page technical preliminary report, "'Faith in Action', aims to explore perceptions of failth-based organisations' (FBOs') involvement in HIV prevention, care and support in countries with high or rapidly growing HIV prevalence rates, as well as in countries that have been successful in containing the epidemic. Commissioned by the Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB), this independently conducted study by the Global Health Council and its local research partners examines FBO involvement in Haiti, India, Kenya, South Africa, Thailand and Uganda.

While faith-based organisations (FBOs) have long delivered social,educational and health services in many countries, independent analyses oftheir work and how it is perceived by others working in the field of HIV/AIDS is lacking. The increasing involvement of FBOs in delivering HIV/AIDS services and prevention activities warrants a balanced and impartial examination of their contributions to help optimise their future involvement and collaboration.

Conceptually grounded in UNAIDS' Global Strategy Framework on HIV/AIDS, interview questions were designed to investigate perceptions of a wide range of key individuals regarding the extent of FBOs leadership, collaboration and community-level contributions to the fight against HIV/AIDS. Representatives of governments, donor agencies, research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, health care facilities, faith-based organisations and community-based organisations, including those representing persons living with HIV/AIDS provided interviews. Focusing on one of many research questions, this report highlights key preliminary findings from the perspective of secular groups in anticipation of the final report, scheduled for release in early 2005."

Click here to download this report in PDF format [543 KB].