STI/HIV Prevention for Miners

• Project Overview
• Objectives and Strategies
• Activities and Highlights

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Gold miners in Upper Guinea commonly engage in short-term “marriages” with women working briefly at the mine. This risky practice is known in the Malinke language as foudoukoudouni. PRISM launched a BCC initiative called “Kiyere Ma Tanka Foudoukoudouni Do,” or “Protect Yourself During Foudoukoudouni.” Kaladjanti (men who possess gold) and Tambolomo (mine owners), the key figures in mining activities, were identified as potential partners, given their influence in the mining communities in the intervention districts.

OBJECTIVES/STRATEGIES

The campaign sought to:

• Increase awareness of the risk of short term marriages (foudoukoudouni).
• Promote preventive behaviours, highlighting especially the importance of condom use with occasional partners.

Prevention messages were based abstinence, faithfulness, and correct and consistent condom use.

ACTIVITIES AND HIGHLIGHTS

Peer Education Training and Outreach. Kaladjanti, Tomboloma, and women leaders received training on STIs and preventive behaviors. The peer educators were given support to carry out activities in their communities. Bartenders, tailors, hair stylists, and other young adults were also trained as peer educators to deliver prevention messages.

Girls’ Soccer Tournaments. Female soccer players held banners and sang songs about HIV to promote responsible behavior. During games, peer educators disseminated messages, performed skits, and distributed IEC brochures.

Theatre Groups and Street Shows. Messages were conveyed through interactive drama.

Print Materials. Posters, leaflets, flyers, brochures, stickers and other print materials were produced and disseminated.