Interagency coordination and effectiveness of the human immuno-deficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) prevention and alleviation program on hilltribes people of Northern Thailand

Village respondents perceived the effect of the program as generally "moderate" in terms of the indicators of effectiveness, compared to the institutionalized respondents who rated the level of effectiveness as "high". However, the village respondents still felt that the number of HIV/AIDS [Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome] cases had not been reduced or still ermained the same, while institutional respondents indicated that it was "less than before". Reciprocal interdependence was negatively and signficiantly related to increased knowledge about HIV/AIDS; it was highly significant with overall program effectiveness. Resource sharing was highly significant in relation to overall program effectiveness in a negative direction. The combined intersectoral/institutional coordination mechanisms were negative but significantly related to increased knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Inter-organizational factors identified to have indirect relations were goal complementarity, adequacy of resources, frequency of interaction, administrative arrangement and complexity to nature and type of intersectoral and institutional mechanisms of reciprocal interdependence and resource sharing as mediating variables with indicators of program effectiveness namely; increased awareness, reduced number of PWHAs [People with AIDS groups], increased knowledge about HIV/AIDS, change in negative attitude of people towards PWHAs, and increased capability of people to prevent contracting HIV/AIDS. Intra-organizational variables, such as, centralization, formalization, behavioral commitment, and leadership were found to be indirectly related to type of intersectoral and institutional mechanisms through reciprocal interdependence and resource sharing as mediating variables, singly or in combination. Likewise, all the intra-organizational variables were directly related to the different indicators/measure of program effectiveness either singly or in combination