Global and local networking for HIV/AIDS prevention: the case of the Saathii E-forum

The global spread of HIV/AIDS has sparked the proliferation of civil society groups working on various aspects of the disease such as prevention, treatment, support, and policy. In this article, we explore the role of the Internet in networking civil society organizations working on HIV/AIDS-related issues across local and global spaces. Specifically, we conducted a thematic analysis of an e-forum established by the nongovernmental organization (NGO) Saathii, working on HIV/AIDS issues in India to (a) identify the specific functions served by the e-forum and (b) explore how global and local actors use the e-forum to network with one another. The thematic analysis documented four key functions of the online forum: (a) to provide HIV/AIDS-related news, (b) to serve as an informational resource, (c) to promote political activism, and (d) to express emotions. The discussion elaborates on the how global and local actors network with one another and build solidarity.