Decision tool for evidence-based planning of AIDS prevention programs

Leadership among the Tlicho communities of NWT has chosen to make prevention of STIs and HIV a priority health issue. The Tlicho, however, still need to improve how they use evidence to create and implement programs that will be effective and sustainable. Simply put, there is too much existing information around STIs and HIV/AIDS for local community programmers to digest. We propose to identify, to develop and to refine effective and efficient methods to implement evidence-based STI and HIV prevention policy and planning in the Tlicho region through a community customised decision tool. First, we will examine the feasibility and effect of an accessible evidence base for the implementation of evidence-based STI and HIV prevention policy and programs relevant to the Tlicho and other Aboriginal communities. Secondly, we will conduct community-led customization of an existing knowledge translation and decision tool. Thirdly, we will provide capacity building opportunities for community researchers and decision makers on data synthesis and updating and use of the decision-support tool. The project will build upon an existing systematic review of HIV prevention done in South Africa, and an existing decision tool, created with planners from eight southern African countries. We will extend the systematic review to suit the Tlicho with an emphasis on culturally appropriate interventions, local resilience factors, and community strengths that contribute to STI and HIV prevention. The Tlicho will customise the decision tool for their own use, taking into account their own knowledge of what visual tools work best for the people who need to know and act upon the information. This will be done through a reiterative consultative process between the community representatives and the research team. We anticipate that development of prevention models and decision aids will be relevant to other communities and organisations such CAAN and the Public Health Agency of Canada.