Cote d’Ivoire

HC3’s goal in Côte d’Ivoire was to reduce vulnerability to HIV/AIDS among higher-risk populations through social and behavior change communication (SBCC) activities.

HC3’s work in Côte d’Ivoire built on the activities begun under the PACT project, which was implemented by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Communication Programs (CCP).

HC3 strengthened the capacity of local stakeholders to implement SBCC programs that support HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment services. In particular, HC3 enhanced the effectiveness of SBCC in promoting HIV service uptake, ART adherence, community-based care/support efforts, healthy social norms and couple communication.

HC3 also strengthened the capacity of other SBCC organizations in Côte d’Ivoire. The project works with local institutions to help develop their SBCC capacity, as well as disseminate high-quality SBCC tools and act as a key resource in this area. Finally, HC3 planned and implemented SBCC programs designed to increase HIV prevention behaviors among high priority groups, including young girls, older men and those with multiple partners.

Community-Focused Activities

SuperGo program: SuperGo (Super Girl) program was funded to reach about 9,000 young girls aged 16-24 through five local NGOs. Because of the program’s success, the target was increased to 15,760 young women. Most SuperGo participants opted to access counseling and HIV testing services; and, all who tested received results. Young women who participated in the program reported that their relationships with their boyfriends had improved and the girls who participated believe that they are now capable of negotiating safe sex.

HC3 Côte d’Ivoire also expanded the SuperGo campaign to empower more young girls to delay their first sexual experience, and for women to use condoms and negotiate safe sex through group trainings and the voice of a cartoon figure, the “Super Go.”

Brothers For Life program: The HC3 Côte d’Ivoire team used the South African Brothers of Life model to address risks associated with having multiple and concurrent partnerships, the issue of gender-based violence, condom use and couple communication, HIV testing, male involvement in PMTCT and health seeking behaviors in general among Ivorian men. Following the pilot program success, the number of men aged 35 and over reached through the BFL program has tripled from 900 in Year 1 to 3,250 in Year 3. More than 75 percent of those who participated got tested for HIV and know their status.

mHealth: HC3 Côte d’Ivoire also piloted an SMS-based mHealth program in an effort to increase HIV testing and counseling and ART adherence and treatment for adult men and people living with HIV/AIDS.

Mass Communication Activities

TV series “Reséaux” (“Networks”): This TV drama series included episodes produced by HC3 Côte d’Ivoire tackling underlying factors affecting adults’ risky behaviors in Côte d’Ivoire. Each episode addressed HIV-related topics including HIV testing and counseling, condom use, multiple and concurrent sexual partners reduction, ART adherence and treatment.