ELECTORNIC BULLETIN OF THE SWISS PLATFORM ON HIV/AIDS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

1. April 2014

Apostolic faith communities believe in prophets and healers and take a critical attitude in rela-tion to Western medecine. A UNESCO-study shows that there are very diverse tendencies within one religious community: The use of modern health care services and drugs is rigorous-ly forbidden for ultra-conservative Apostolics, whereas semi-conservative groups recognise and use modern medicine as secondary options to faith healing and church.

The aim of the Meeting Point is sharing and joint learning in order to gain insight into one’s own work. Your experiences from different contexts with other faith communities and per-ceptions will enrich our exchange.

Program 1. Welcome and introduction to the content and objective of the Meeting Point 2. Input by Dr. med Urs Allenspach, physician and board member of SolidarMed; within the SolidarMed Mother-Child-Program, he extensively dealt with the Vapostori (Apostolics) in Zimbabwe. 3. Discussion and exchange of experiences on the following core issues: • Options for cooperation with different religious groups • Strategies to promote an effective use of medical services for mother and child health

Languages: Input in English, questions and discussion in German, French and/or English. May 8, 2014, 10.15-12.45, Swiss Red Cross, Rainmattstr. 20, Berne

Information and registration: Helena Zweifel. Medicus Mundi Switzerland Network, Murba-cherstr. 34, 4013 Basel, hzweifel@medicusmundi.ch, 061 383 18 12, www.medicusmundi.ch

http://www.aidsfocus.ch

This qualitative study on determinants of healthcare seeking behavior among Apostolic Faith community (Vapostori) was commissioned in December 2010 by the Collaborating Center for Operational Research and Evaluation (CCORE, UNICEF) in response to the need to understand beliefs and practices that lead to acceptance or rejection of preventive and promotive health and social practices among Apostolic religious groups in Zimbabwe, focusing on those practices that affect women and children. It sought to provide in-depth, rich description and understanding of the different groups within the Apostolic community, and offer evidence that would be used in generating and informing future communication strategies for health and social development in Apostolic communities as well as strategic recommendations for program interventions. In addition, the study also highlighted “best practice situations” where optimal collaboration between the Apostolic community and formal healthcare providers was identified by the respondents.

Some religious beliefs, tenets and adherence to practices of the ultra-conservative Apostolic groups have negatively affected members’ decisions about their healthcare by objecting to uptake of modern healthcare services and encouraging practices that increase risk to HIV and AIDS through polygamy, wife inheritance and pledging young girls to marriage. These factors contribute to negative health outcomes. However, it should be noted that some Apostolic tenets have positive implications for health outcomes and public health.

In Zimbabwe, the under-five mortality rate has risen from 77 per 1000 live births in 1994 to 82 per 1000 live births in 2005, and has continued to rise to about 86 per 1000 live births in 2009 (CSO 2009). When adjusted for HIV and AIDS-related mortality, the under-five mortality is approximated at 96 per 100 live births. However, HIV and AIDS remain one of the leading causes of under-five mortality in Zimbabwe, and approximately 95% of the pediatrics cases of HIV in children in this category are from mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy, childbirth, and/or breastfeeding. Given this challenge, preventing mother-to-child transmission and screening infants for HIV after delivery and throughout the breastfeeding phases could help reduce the numbers of children dying from HIVrelated conditions.

http://www.aidsfocus.ch
http://www.unicef.org

Partner organisations: AIDS & Child, CO-OPERAID, Déclaration de Berne, FEPA, Fédération Genevoise de Coopération, Gemeinschaft St. Anna-Schwestern, IAMANEH Switzerland, Kindernothilfe Schweiz, Kwa Wazee, mediCuba-Suisse, missio, mission21, SolidarMed, Swiss Aids Care International, Swiss Aids Federation, Swiss Catholic Lenten Fund, Swiss Catholic Women’s League, Swiss MIVA, Swiss Red Cross, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (SwissTPH), Tear Fund, Terre des hommes Foundation, terre des hommes schweiz, and World Vision Switzerland.

http://www.aidsfocus.ch