HIV This Week

Krakauer M, Newbery J. Churches’ responses to HIV/AIDS in two South African communities. J Int Assoc Physicians AIDS Care (Chic Ill) 2007;6:27-35.

Churches have attracted controversy for how they have dealt with AIDS: they have been criticized for moral stigmatism, yet lauded for their charitable works. Krakauer and colleagues examine what churches were doing at the grass-roots level to deal with the impact of AIDS on their communities. This study was conducted in a rural area and an urban area outside of Durban, South Africa, a region with high HIV prevalence rates. The authors examined 2 indigenous churches (Shembe and Zionist) and one international church (Roman Catholic) in each community. The authors found that there was a widespread awareness of AIDS among church leaders and community members, and that churches were used as health resources by their members, yet no AIDS programs were run by any of the churches in the study locations. The authors argue that 4 key characteristics dictated the churches’ responses to AIDS: resources, organizational structure, cultural appeal, and discipline. There are distinct advantages to partnering with churches for AIDS programming, yet significant complexities to navigating a meaningful dialogue with them also exist.

Editors’ note: This study suggests that there is significant untapped potential in faith-based organisations for the response to HIV. Translating high awareness into effective HIV programming for church members and the broader community may require study tours and peer learning about approaches being used effectively in other communities.