| dc.description.abstract | The HIV/AIDS pandemic is recognized to be the most devastating scourge in history.
As the global community begins to comprehend and acknowledge the immense impact
of this monster, there is an increasing urgency to respond in a way that will reverse the
devastation and destructiveness caused by this disease.
New information technologies, especially the internet, has been seen as one major
potential vehicle, among others III the global mobilization and response to the
pandemic.
With the promise of providing vast amounts of quality information and creating
networks of researchers, health care providers, NGOs among others in the fight against
HIV/AIDS, many organizations have taken the plunge in the adoption of such
technologies.
While acknowledging that internet technologies cannot provide the same kind of direct
benefits such as health care and drugs, the value of such technologies in the campaigns
(through focused applications and appropriate policies) has been seen to empower most
organizations engaged in concerted efforts to stamp out the disease.
This study investigated the adoption levels of internet (and its associated technologies)
among NGOs believed to be actively involved in Information Education
Communication interventions in the fight against HIV/AIDS and other reproductive
health concerns.
Through e-mail questionnaires and selected interviews to key informants, the study
sought to unearth the adoption patterns, the perception and attitudes held by the various
respondents about internet technologies as used in the HIV/AIDS campaigns. The
factors incidental to adoption and non-adoption of the technologies were also explored.
The study also made an evaluation of the other alternative channels of communication
to examine the premium placed on them especially when compared with the new
technologies. Policy recommendations on the way forward were also sought from
respondents.
The investigation revealed that most of Non-governmental organizations were positive
about the new technologies evidenced by its adoption at least at the basic level (18%).
The perceptions given to the internet were also encouraging especially with regard to its
potentialities in such campaigns. Internet technologies were perceived seen as a strong
networking tool that provided qualitative and quantitative information on the latest
news on HIV/AIDS and other reproductive health related concerns.
The value of the internet notwithstanding, respondents cited several major hindrances to
its full adoption and effective use in the campaigns. These included inadequate
technical/operational skills, high costs of use and maintenance, poor technological
infrastructure and to a lesser extent, some organizations deliberately failing to hook up
to the bandwagon of technology for frivolous reasons.
A significant observation was that those who mostly favoured the technology were
drawn from the international category, something that can be attributed to a sound
financial exposure and skills.
A major recommendation given was the need to marshal resources among organizations
and integrate ICTs into the overall organizational policy so that internet technologies
can be seen as integral to effective communication planning and implementation of
HIV/AIDS campaigns in organizations. | en |
