Shiferaw, Teshager (Phd)Kebede Haile, Abiot2020-09-252023-11-082020-09-252023-11-082020-06http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/22438A Study of Health Communication Practice to Reduce HIV/AIDS in the urban areas of the Addis Ababa Nifase Sik Lafto Sub-Ciy Woreda 11 in Focus Abiot Kebede Addis Ababa University, 2020 As a core component of the broader health system, Health Extension Program (HEP) focuses on the household and community that calls for coordinated action at all levels (FMOH, 2007). This study focused on the health communication strategies used by health extension program workers to reduce HIV/AIDS in the urban areas, with an emphasis on whether these strategies were effective in promoting participation and creating awareness among the communities in the selected Woreda. This was chosen purposively as case study area because it is one of the woredas with high HIV exposure rat. This woreda was purposively selected for the study. Qualitative methods were used for data collection. Accordingly, from the selected woreda, in-depth interviews were conducted with four HEWs that work in four selected ketanas and two woreda health officers and supervisors, all of them are females. And the other interview was conducted from 2FSWs and 2 youths in the youth center and 2 in working area deliberately performed. The youths are 2 of them are male and the other two are females. In the FGD sessions 4 (one-to-five) leaders and 4 one-to-five members in the woreda, four ketenas 2 in each ketanas were selected, and the recorded data were transcribed. Based on the participatory communication model as a theoretical framework, the data was analyzed. The analysis indicated health extension program depended on interpersonal communication, team communication, and door to door communication and team communication strategies. i Among those methods of communications, interpersonal communication had a better acceptance by the community and the health extension practitioners. In the case of community participation even through the Ministry of Health Bureau implemented a participatory development process as set out in the policy documents participation of the community horizontal communication. However, it was found out that in the study area, the two down communication was more predominantly used. Men were not included in the communication.en-USHealth Extension Program (HEP) focuses on the household and community that calls for coordinated action at all levels (FMOH, 2007).Thesis