Evaluation of HIV and AIDS workplace programs in government-owned secondary schools in Tanzania

Abstract

Background: The government of Tanzania mandated HIV/AIDS workplace interventions in 2006, with the objective of reducing the spread of HIV and supporting workers living with HIV/AIDS. The policy directs public institutions to design and implement workplace programs covering HIV prevention, care and treatment. This study evaluated implementation of the program in Morogoro Municipal Council and its effects among secondary school teachers.

Methods: We conducted in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with key informants purposively selected from the Morogoro Municipal Council and secondary schools, and a review of relevant documents.

Results: The structures through which HIV/AIDS workplace activities were to be assessed and implemented, including a situation assessment, HIV/AIDS workplace committees and resource allocation, had not been put in place or had been given insufficient resources or priority. Therefore, very few HIV/AIDS activities had been implemented, and almost all of those at the Morogoro Municipal headquarters. The few activities that had been implemented, such as awareness sessions and peer education, had minimal reach and effectiveness.

Conclusion: Teachers are a high-risk group for HIV/AIDS in Tanzania, and the HIV/AIDS workplace program was conceived as a strategy to prevent and mitigate the adverse effects of HIV/AIDS among teachers and other workers. We found that the HIV/AIDS workplace programs had not been implemented sufficiently in Morogoro Municipal secondary schools to make an impact on workers. We recommend better dissemination of the guidelines, stronger leadership and accountability, and representation by workers living with HIV to improve implementation of HIV/AIDS workplace activities.