Community Mobilisation and Social Work: A Case Study of HIV Prevention in Anambra State

Community mobilisation represents a cornerstone of effective social work practice in public health contexts, enabling communities to take ownership of prevention efforts and sustain behavioural change over time. This study examines the role of social workers in community mobilisation for HIV prevention in Anambra State, focusing on Awka South and Idemili North local government areas. A descriptive survey approach is employed, with data collected from 100 community members, social workers, and health workers through structured questionnaires. Frequencies and chi-square statistics are applied in data analysis. The study finds that community mobilisation activities conducted by social workers include village sensitisation meetings, door-to-door education campaigns, peer educator training, and support for community health volunteers. These activities are associated with improved HIV testing uptake and increased condom use knowledge in communities with high mobilisation intensity. However, social workers working on HIV prevention frequently report inadequate supervisory structures, poor integration with healthcare service points, and limited reach beyond urban and semi-urban communities. Recommendations include training social workers in participatory community mobilisation techniques, strengthening integration between social work and public health teams in HIV programming, and expanding mobile HIV testing outreach to under-served rural communities. Keywords: community mobilisation, HIV prevention, social work, Anambra State, public health