| Abstract: | The purpose of this study was to assess the effective implementation of HIV/AIDS Mainstreaming in selected Ethiopian Higher Education Institutions.
The researcher has used descriptive method to conduct this research. Eight public and two private HEIs were covered by the study. The study was conducted between Oct. and Dec. 2013. To assess the effective implementation of HIV/AIDS mainstreaming activities, the researcher has employed globally and nationally accepted parameters which are considered to be essential for the study. The major ones are HIV/AIDS mainstreaming plan, implementation of the plan, vulnerability assessment, establishment of AIDS fund, evidence based communications for behavioral change, commitment of top level managements, condom promotion and distribution, assignment of full time focal person, allocation of adequate budget, existence of AIDS club, provision of HIV/AIDS related clinical services, referral linkage, impact analysis, development of HIV/AIDS working policies, strategies and actions, development of action that mitigate impacts and finally M & E framework development.
Questioner, observation and document review were used to collect data and generate the required information for the study. A total of 52 respondents including: 10 university presidents, 10 HIV/AIDS focal persons, 10 clinic heads, 20 HIV/AIDS club leaders and 2 representatives of HEIs Forums were interviewed using semi-structured data collection tools.
The major findings of the research include: most of the universities have HIV/AIDS activities in their annual plan but their performance is limited, only 30% of the universities have formulated the HIV/AIDS working polices, almost all the universities did not conduct baseline and impact assessment as well as operational researches and using the results for planning, & M & E programs. Only one university integrated HIV/AIDS into the curricula, allocation of limited resource, none existence of AIDS resource Center (ARC), lack of participatory planning & implementation.
Generally, all the HEIs in the country need to mainstream HIV/AIDS into their core activities such as integration into curricula; research program for better intervention, work place program to enhance care and support activities, and outreach programs beyond the campus for comprehensive response and to excel their services to the required stages |
