Do-it-yourself information notes for AIDS counselling in developing countries.

Abstract

Provision of a health information booklet is an important component of AIDS prevention counseling. This measure is essential because people may not fully understand verbal explanations or need time to think about the details. In developing countries, however, implementation of this strategy may be limited by the expense involved in printing booklets, difficulties maintaining adequate supplies to meet the demand, the presence of multiple languages in a given area, and high rates of illiteracy. Recommended, in such a context, is the preparation of basic explanatory information and graphic illustrations on a single sheet of paper that can be duplicated as necessary or translated into local languages. Local customs or religious beliefs, as well as community risk factors (e.g., scarification by traditional healers), should be considered in writing the text. An appendix presents a sample information sheet that was prepared in Swahili, Arabic, and English for Omani patients attending the infectious disease clinic of the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital.