Table 1.

Sample session Plan for HIV Discordant & Concordant Couples’ Sensitization Outline

Subject: Couple Sensitization Session for HIV Discordant & Concordant Couples Date: Time:	Lead Counsellor:
	Co-Lead Counsellor:
Participants are engaged in: Cooperative learning Small group discussion Brain storming Experience sharing Active listening Asking and answering questions
Pre-Session: (Time: 20 – 30 minutes) The Counsellors warmly welcomes participants into the Hall, provides them with seats and begins by introducing him/her self and other Rakai Program staff if available Counsellor proceeds on by requesting participants to introduce their neighbours (Via pre-determined format) Counsellor solicits for ground rules and expectations from participants Counsellor displays the chart with the session objectives of the session

Objective	Duration	Content	Teaching Method	Teaching Aids/materials	Participants/Learners activity	Evaluation Method
Willing participants share individual experiences with regard to VCT	30 min	Participants share the individual experiences regarding VCT and the lessons learned from this endeavour. The facilitator moderates the exercise	Experience sharing/story telling		Active Listening	Asks questions
Mention at least 4 benefits of couple HIV counselling & testing	20 min	Individuals are not burdened with the need to disclose results and persuade partners to be tested Offers safe environment for couples to discuss risk concerns and issues Partners hear information and messages together – enhancing the likelihood of a shared understanding Receive appropriate and timely interventions to reduce MTCT including antiretroviral treatment/prophylaxis and Infant-feeding counselling and support Facilitates the communication and cooperation required for risk reduction e.g consistent condom use, mutual faithfulness, HIV retesting etc Opportunity to mitigate tension and avert blame	Small Group discussion	Flip Chart	-Asking Questions Answering Questions -Brainstorming	Ask a participant to summarize all points presented.
	20 min	BREAK- BREAK –BREAK- BREAK- BRAK- BREAK- BREAK- BREAK- BREAK- BREAK- BREAK –BRAK- BREAK- BREAK
Explain the cardinal elements of effective communicat ion among couples	20 min	Good communication is the first step in problem solving and in relation building: Partners must be eager to express themselves honestly They must warmly receive each other’s communication The thoughts or emotions of the speaker must represent the actual words that come out of the speakers mouth The listener must understand or interpret accurately what is said or heard	Small group discussion then counsellor corrects myths	Flip Chart	Asking Questions Answering Questions -Brainstorming	Asks questions
List at least 8 reasons why spouses fail to communicate effectively	25 min	One of the partners doesn’t have a personal need to: (a) share experiences or feelings, (b) discuss the relationship, or (c) doesn’t understand importance of verbally expressing to partner feelings of love, appreciation, or praise. Talks, but doesn’t make sure that partner is listening Speaker mumbles, is ambiguous or vague; listener misinterprets or mind-reads Doesn’t reveal himself because he fears he’ll be vulnerable Doesn’t communicate because he believes that talking would be futile Doesn’t communicate because he doesn’t respect his partner’s opinion Doesn’t share decisions because of a desire to control Couple does not communicate because of incompatible schedules and lack of time together Communicates in an offensive manner Lying or withholding vital information. Does not communicate because s/he believes that partner is not interested. Excellent communication from speaker but listener does not care.	Small group discussion then counsellor corrects myths & misconceptions in the groups	Flip Chart	Asking Questions Answering Questions -Brainstorming	Asks questions
Outline at least five benefits of effective communication in couples	15 min	1. Good communicators avoid misunderstandings, unacceptable behaviours, fights and separation 2. Good communicators can disagree, yet agree respectfully and constructively 3. Good communicators know when and how to talk, and when and how to listen.4. Good communicators resolve problems through discussion and constructive arguing. 5. Good communication promotes sharing, companionship, and bonding 6. Good communicators engage in frank discussions that reveal each person’s needs/desires/agenda and develop a clear understanding of how to fulfill each other’s expectations	Small group discussion then counsellor corrects myths and misconceptions	Flip Chart	Asking Questions Answering Questions -Brainstorming	Asks questions
Describe the salient issues regarding Couple HIV discordance	30 min	Factors contributing to HIV transmission Risks 1) Presence of Sexually transmitted infections Lesions/Sores/Ulcers 3) Increased frequency of sexual intercourse Less sex often means fewer chances of transmission Dry sex and traumatic sex. 4) Absence of male circumcision Other issues Mutual masturbation is said to cause no risk. Continued exposure will lead to HIV infection in the currently HIV negative partner. Discordance is not a sure sign of infidelity Couples can remain discordant for lifetime if risk reduction practices are absolutely implemented in the couple. HIV negative females in discordance are often threatened especially when male partner refuses to use condoms Common misperceptions about discordance The window period does not absolutely explain discordance The uninfected partner is not immune to HIV Faith can not protect one from becoming infected and a curse cannot cause one to become infected The characteristics of a woman’s vagina or a man’s penis are not an explanation for HIV discordance	Small group discussions then counsellor corrects myths and misconceptions	Flip Chart	Asking Questions Answering Questions -Brainstorming	Asks questions
Rapping up the session	10 min	Counsellor appoints one or two participants to summarize the whole session. Then counsellor appreciates all participants for their presence and active participation		-		Summative evaluation