Action Issues
HIV/AIDS Prevention

Being Proactive

prep-image-initiativesPrEP is a cutting-edge method for preventing HIV transmission that involves the use of anti-retroviral therapies (ARTs) for preventative benefit by individuals who are HIV negative. This method has been demonstrated to reduce the chance of infection by 40-50% among certain populations and is currently undergoing further clinical testing.

As trusted and influential community figureheads, religious leaders are key to the success of any public health intervention.  

CIFA has been asked to develop a framework and strategy for the engagement of religious leaders on PrEP.

Our Findings

Through its research thus far, CIFA has found that there is a way forward for positive engagement and partnership between religious leaders and the public health community on PrEP.  The key findings of CIFA’s research so far are:

  • PrEP introduction is occurring at an auspicious time:  Religious leaders are increasingly willing and eager to support their communities by advocating for HIV prevention.  Religious leaders, if appropriately engaged, could be powerful allies and supporters of PrEP introduction.

  • The success of religious engagement depends on the successful translation of PrEP from the language of public health into the language of faith: Religious leaders are not, nor should they be treated as, public health professionals. Their primary role is to be moral guides while ensuring the holistic wellbeing of their parishioners, including their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness.

  • The key to this ‘translation’ is that it must recognize that faith leaders view HIV prevention through a lens that includes behavioral and structural factors: PrEP marketing must place PrEP within a broader package of HIV-prevention tools. PrEP cannot be presented as a stand-alone commodity without any engagement with the broader moral issues of concern to religious leaders when dealing with issues of sex and sexuality.

These findings are exciting and promising for the public health as well as the faith community.  They suggest that through sensitive, proactive engagement, a way forward can be found that allows religious leaders to protect the lives of their participants and allows PrEP to achieve its maximum benefit in prevention new transmissions of HIV.  Together, this can lead to fewer HIV transmissions and more lives saved.