Developing Strategies to Advance HIV Prevention and Family Planning Services

Uganda Village Project (UVP) is an international nonprofit organization working in rural communities in Uganda’s Iganga district to promote public health. UVP focuses on malaria and HIV prevention; water, sanitation, and hygiene; and family planning and reproductive health services. UVP believes the communities in which they work will one day effectively create and implement their own health and development solutions. UVP enlisted a Capstone team to explore potential gaps in its family planning and HIV prevention programs, and to provide targeted program recommendations. Through preliminary research and meetings with staff, the team discovered that male participation in UVP’s health programs is fundamental to the overall health of households in Iganga. The team’s fieldwork consisted of interviews and focus groups with UVP staff, beneficiaries, health workers, and village health teams. Drawing on key themes in the research and fieldwork, the team provided recommendations accentuating male participation, adolescent engagement, and increased access to communities.