Nigeria
HIV-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, Behaviors, and Practices of Young People in Cross River and Kogi States
C-Change/Nigeria assessed and reported on the HIV-related knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practices of more than 1,200 youth ages 10–24 in Cross River State and Kogi State. Focus group discussions and in-depth interviews centered on youth lifestyles, risky behaviors, information and misconceptions about HIV, media habits, and recall of youth-focused HIV prevention messages and programs in the two states. The report makes note of risk factors that need to be addressed in communicating with youth about HIV and AIDS.
Strengthening SBCC Capacity in HIV Prevention
C-Change is supporting Nigeria at the national level and in two federal states—Cross River and Kogi—to improve social and behavior change communication (SBCC) programming in HIV prevention.
To strengthen SBCC capacity, C-Change conducted assessments of 60 national and local NGOs and community-based organizations (CBOs) in mid-2009, using the C-Change SBCC Capacity Assessment Tool.
Findings from these assessments informed the 10-day training, Communication Planning for Improved Social and Behavior Change. It was conducted in December 2009 for 24 persons from 14 U.S. Government implementing partners. The training is based on the six SBCC modules that C-Change developed.
Nigeria's National Framework Addresses HIV and AIDS
C-Change successfully assisted the reconstitution of the national Behavior Change Communication Technical Working Group (BCC TWG), which draws its members from individuals and national groups with BCC expertise. The BCC TWG has been repositioned to provide BCC technical oversight to the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), and is reviewing the operational plan of Nigeria’s National BCC strategy. C-Change is doing the same at the state level with the State Agency for the Control of AIDS (SACA) in Cross River and with the SACA in Kogi.
This work by C-Change meshes with Nigeria’s national strategic framework to address HIV and AIDS, which calls for the adoption of innovative, evidence-based strategies for behavior change.
In 2000, Nigeria strengthened its response to HIV and AIDS with establishment of national and state action committees on AIDS. In 2007, these committees were upgraded to full government agency status. NACA is mandated to coordinate the HIV and AIDS response at the national level, SACAs are mandated at state levels, and LACAs at local government levels.
