The HIV & Maternal Health Learning Hub
The Learning Hub focused on evidence for the activity and impact of Local Faith Communities on HIV/AIDS and Maternal Health, with special attention to Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of Aids (PMTCT) and to the role of skilled birth attendants.
Learning Hub members worked together to understand what is already known about how faith groups impact HIV and maternal health.
Hub Co-chairs
Azza Karam, UNFPA
Christo Greyling, Word Vision International
Julie Clague, University of Glasgow
Sally Smith, UNAIDS
Key Findings
FBOs’ involvement with HIV is diverse and often extensive in outreach:
- 1 in 5 HIV responses is faith-related (WHO 2004)
- A comprehensive worldwide mapping of FBO HIV responses has not been undertaken and that there is little reliable national data (Keough, et al., 2007)
FBOs’ involvement with Maternal and Child Health services are common:
- 90% FB health facilities in sub-Saharan Africa offer maternal and newborn services (Chand & Patterson 2007
- In Uganda, 50% of MCH provided through FBOs (USAID & Access 2007)
- Services provided by FBOs in 6 African countries rated quality of care and satisfaction better than public sector services (Widmer et al 2011)
What do we know
- Publications indicate that FBO responses to HIV are holistic, addressing livelihoods, nutrition, stigma, gender equity, psychosocial and spiritual support, and advocacy concerns alongside health needs (Strategies for Hope, 2012)
- Judgmental attitudes of some religious leaders and communities can increase stigma and discrimination (Courtney, 2011).
- Women and poorest reached, but limited services with key populations including MSM, CSW, IDU and gender equality.
- A tendency among some FBOs to use programmes as a means to proselytise (Gaul, et al., 2011).
SPOTLIGHT
Religion and Sustainable Development Conference Video sessions
Expert Commentators:
Sally Smith (UNAIDS), Robert J. Vitillo (Caritas Internationalis), Nicta Lubaale Makiika (Organization of African Instituted Chruches), Christo Greyling (WVI), Frank Dimmock (Presbyterian Church), Christoph Benn (Global Fund)
Past Hub Events
UNAIDS Webinar- Spirituality, Mental Heath and Resilience during the dual pandemics of COVID-19 and HIV
2021-02-04
08:30:00
America/New_York
Disease Pandemics and Innovations in Care
2020-10-08
14:00:00
Europe/London
HIV Interfaith Conference: Resilience & Renewal: faith in the HIV response
2020-09-22
09:30:00
UTC
Faith-Sensitive Humanitarian Response Focus on MHPSS: Introducing a new online training tool webinar
2020-06-03
09:00:00
UTC-4
The COVID-19 Crisis: Adaptations and Tensions During the Month of Ramadan
2020-04-30
12:00:00
America/New_York
The COVID-19 Crisis: From Past Experience to Present Realities
2020-04-16
12:00:00
UTC
Faith and Family Planning: Working Together to Drive Progress Post-2020
2020-01-21
08:00:00
UTC
Keeping the Faith in the ICPD Nairobi ICPD 25 (International Conference on Population and Development )
2019-11-12
00:00:00
UTC
