The dynamics of community participation in the context of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Zambia – A case study with the Mboole Rural Development Initiative

Abstract: This thesis uses a mixed-method strategy to scrutinize the dynamics of community participation and how it can contribute to improve HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviors, paying particular attention to aspects of power and gender. In a case-study design, this thesis analyzes participation in the Mboole Rural Development Initiative and its projects with international donors utilizing an analytical framework developed for the purpose of this study. Furthermore, it examines the implications of community participation for the fight against HIV/AIDS and the performance of Mboole in addressing the epidemic. The findings suggest that the approach to community participation matters with implications on project effectiveness and sustainability. The analytical framework developed in this study provides a useful tool to analyze differing approaches to participation. Additionally, the results highlight the role of traditional hierarchies, role modeling and gender in participatory processes in Mboole. Traditional elites influence participation and are key for conveying positive health messages – as are “community champions”. Furthermore, gender roles can substantially hamper female participation. Lastly, this thesis stresses the importance of community participation for the acceptance of health messages and its relevance for the fight against HIV/AIDS, with Mboole showing successes in addressing the epidemic, but also areas for further improvements.