Download HIV/AIDS Prevention in Schools: Issues and Challenges and more Slides Public Health in PDF only on Docsity! HIV/AIDS Prevention Through Schools Issues and Challenges docsity.com Summary of Contents • The epidemic - its changing focus • Lessons from what ‘works’ • Goals for 2005 • School HIV prevention - Issues &Challenges • UNICEF as partner 5 topics: docsity.com Number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Asia: 1980-2001 Source: UNAIDS/WHO, 2002 M ill io ns 0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 Over 6 million people in Asia are now living with HIV/AIDS Evolution of the epidemic docsity.com Effective national response can make a difference Trends in HIV prevalence among pregnant women in Cambodia and Thailand, 1991-2002 0 1 2 3 19 91 19 92 19 93 19 94 19 95 19 96 19 97 19 98 19 99 20 00 20 01 20 02 Pe rc en t H IV in fe ct ed Thailandresponse Cambodia response Lessons learned Source: UNAIDS/WHO docsity.com Thailand – existing epidemic vs. potential 0 2 4 6 8 10 19 85 19 90 19 95 20 00 20 05 20 10 C ur re nt H IV In fe ct io ns in m ill io ns Baseline No Intervention Red line represents what might have been if behaviors had not changed Infections prevented docsity.com UNGASS goal for Young People By 2005, 90% of young people 15-24 yrs have meaningful access to the information, education, and services needed to protect themselves from HIV/AIDS docsity.com Young People Today • Half of all new infections between 15-24 yrs • Young people are having sex, yet don’t know how to protect themselves from HIV • Well over 50% of young people 15-24 yrs have serious misconceptions about HIV • Risk behaviors are practiced partly as a result of misinformation (or lack of information) docsity.com What do we know …. • Effective school-based programmes can influence key vulnerability factors • Being in school itself reduces vulnerability • Programmes that advise only abstinence have not been shown to be effective in behaviour change • Coverage remains low • Interventions remain information-driven - not skill- based • Few genuinely participatory Yet despite this, docsity.com What makes a school-based programme successful? • A clear consistent message based on accurate information • Focuses on reducing one or more specific risk behaviours • Uses teaching methods that involve students, are skill-based and use real life situations • Motivates and trains teachers to participate • Lasts sufficient time docsity.com At what age should school based programmes begin? • As yet, no clear answers, but research suggests ... – programmes should begin at an early age – instilling positive norms is easier if behavioural patterns have not yet been formed – impact greater if education takes place before student becomes sexually active rather than after docsity.com So, to achieve our national goals - what do we need? • Bring greater political support behind school HIV initiatives • A scaled up response • Synergies between education and health • Leadership by Education Departments • More resources for school- HIV efforts • Schools as an opportunity for reaching young people in the community docsity.com
