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This paper describes the implementation of a large community-based HIV/AIDS behavioural intervention in rural Uganda and presents 4 years' worth of quantitative process data. The intervention involved 560 field-based workers (57% male, 76% subsistence farmers, mean age 35 years), supervised by six central staff. Intervention channels included drama and video shows, Community Educators (CEs), as well as leaflet and condom distribution. Activities focused on one or more of 16 key topics. In total, 392 000 attendances (51% female) were recorded—a mean of over 6 for each of the 64 000 target adults—at 81 000 activities, with CEs attracting 71% of the total attendance; 164 000 leaflets and 242 000 condoms were also distributed. The annual cost of the intervention per target individual was approximately US$1.76. Our voluntary workforce experienced an annual attrition rate of 11%, with 'stable' workers more likely to be older, married or opinion leaders in their community than those who dropped out. We calculate that even a significant increase in the proportion of female field workers would have made little difference either to the sex ratio of attendees or to overall attendance. In spite of some initial resistance to the intervention, particularly in relation to condoms, we have demonstrated that people in rural Africa can accept and actively participate in the dissemination of HIV/AIDS prevention messages throughout their own communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Program managers and researchers promoting children's rights to health, education, and an adequate standard of living often gather data directly from children to assess their needs and develop responsive services. Gathering information within a participatory framework recognizing children's views contributes to protection of their rights. Extra precautions, however, are needed to protect children because of the vulnerabilities associated with their developmental needs. Using case studies of ethical challenges faced by program implementers and sociobehavioral researchers, this article explores ways in which data collection activities among children may affect their rights. We suggest ways in which rights-based principles may be used to derive safeguards to protect against unintentional harm and abuses, based on a multidisciplinary consultation with researchers and service providers.