According to the latest 2004 UNAIDS report at the end of 2003, approximately seven percent of 15 to 49 year olds (530,000 people out of a population of over 16 million) in Côte d'Ivoire were infected with HIV. The report highlights this age range as most at risk for HIV infection.

Individuals in Bodo, a rural village one hundred and nine kilometers north of Abidjan, representing this age group talk about how the HIV prevention and awareness campaign of Anader has impacted their daily lives.

Janette, the matron and head midwife of Bodo, and Angeline, her medical assistant represent adult women in the village between the ages of 30 and 45.

Janette and Angeline buy condoms from young people in the village. They then give them to their husbands since female condoms have not yet been adopted in the village.

Janette says the village's HIV/Aids awareness campaign has enabled young people and old people to talk with one another about a subject that has traditionally been a taboo topic.

"Before, young people didn't talk about sex with their parents," says Janette. "Now they want to know so they ask questions and we explain things to them," she continues.

She also says they are now aware of the importance of the voluntary HIV test. "If I feared I was infected, I would go to the hospital in Tiassale right away," says Janette. "I would immediately tell my husband and make sure he went to the hospital with me to get tested," she adds.

When Janette and Angeline deliver newborn babies in the village's local maternity, they now sterilize their equipment such as the instrument they use to cut the newborn baby's umbilical cord and make sure to change the plastic gloves they use. If they practice scarification, they sterilize the blades they use. They have stopped braiding their hair because the needles they were using favored HIV transmission.

40-year old Venance and 39-year old Yapi are planters living and working in Bodo. Venance prefers to abstain and remain faithful to his wife rather than use condoms. "Since I became aware about the risk of HIV infection through the village committee, I have changed my behavior," he says.

Like Janette and Angeline, they insist on the importance of going to the hospital to take the voluntary HIV test although they have not yet had the opportunity to take the test. They don't yet know whether their family or friends are HIV positive since the voluntary HIV test has not yet come to the village.

"It would be best to have a hospital here in the village where we could take the test," says Yapi. "If I knew I was HIV positive, I would take precautions not to contaminate others and I would not be scared to tell people," he asserts.

Today, there is a hospital in the village but it's lacking in equipment and staff.

When Venance goes to the hairdresser, he brings his own sterilized blade. He also says the campaign has alerted people to the HIV risk associated with circumcision. He explains that circumcision now occurs in hospitals.

Yapi has not yet told his children about Aids since he believes they are not yet old enough to understand. "For now, I tell them not to use the sharp materials of others such as razors," he says.

Irènée is an 18-year old single mother living in Bodo. Because she is busy with her baby and going to school, she doesn't have much time to attend events organized by the village's Aids committee.

She can't talk very easily about sex with her family.

She learned about condoms at school. She buys condoms from pharmacies or in big cities such as Abidjan. "I buy condoms to make sure I am protected during sexual intercourse," says Irènée as she tries to console her 13 month old baby suffering from malaria.

The 18-year old says girls her age go to video clubs and schools to have sexual relations with men. She hasn't yet taken the voluntary HIV test but she wants to.

Allico is 19-years old. He helps out the village's HIV/Aids committee with awareness campaigns and the selling of condoms. He says he and friends his age talk about the need to use condoms and have protected sex.

As soon as he gets the chance, he would like to take a voluntary HIV test. He says if he were tested HIV positive, he would tell his parents but no one else.