Million Tumato, Adanech Tadele, Tilahun Amelo: Impacts of Involving Community Elders, Leaders and Cultural Leaders in Interventions Undertaken to Address Problems of HIV –AIDS/Stis & Poverty (December 2009) in Aabbo Wonsho Woreda, Sidama, SNNPR, Ethiopia

Introduction:  Multifaceted challenges it imposes on health and overall development progress involving every society of the globe makes HIV –AIDS pandemic number one enemy among communicable diseases human beings encountered so far. Magnitude of this epidemic is more pronounced in developing countries.  Comprehensive intervention measures involving all groups have been undertaken globally to deal with the problem. Unreserved efforts have been made nationally to address such disastrous outcomes of HIV –AIDS. The Objective of this assessment was to evaluate impacts of active involvement of mentioned groups in interventions undertaken

Methods:  A survey was done using structured questionnaire. Convenient sampling method was used to select community elders, leaders and cultural leaders providing socio-cultural services in Wonsho woreda. Moreover surveillance reports of HIV –AIDS and harmful traditional practices in the woreda were reviewed and data was analyzed using excel.

 Results:  A total of 40 respondents were involved in the survey out of which 20 were community leaders, 10 were traditional healers and the rest were cultural leaders.  Thirty five (88%) were males. Mean age of respondents was 40, age range (40 - 65 years).  Five (50%) of traditional healers were females. All of females reported that they stopped providing female circumcision services. Thirty six (90%) of respondents agreed that abduction levels decreased markedly. Ninety (90%) of respondents agreed that proportion of people demanding & using condom increased. Eighty percent (32 out of 40) of respondents gave their opinion that stigma and discrimination against PLWHAS should be avoided

Conclusion:  Success achieved was due to active involvement of community and cultural leaders among others in intervention measures taken to deal with this issue. Group targeted, collaborative efforts strengthening and adverse effects mitigating and response managing interventions to be undertaken was recommended.

Key words:  Community/cultural leaders, harmful traditional practices, HIV –AIDS/STIS, concerted efforts, Ethiopia