HIV/AIDS Prevention Through Schools

1. HIV/AIDS PreventionThrough Schools Issues and Challenges Dr S.K. CHATURVEDI

2. Summary of Contents 5 topics: • The epidemic - its changing focus • Lessons from what ‘works’ • Goals for 2005 • School HIV prevention - Issues &Challenges • UNICEF as partner

3. HIV prevalence in adults, end 2001 15 – 39% 5 – 15% 1 – 5% 0.5 – 1.0% 0.1 – 0.5% In 7 countries, more than 20% of all adults are infected with HIV 0.0 – 0.1% not available Evolution of the epidemic Main focus still on Africa

4. Evolution of the epidemic But HIV Prevalence is increasing rapidly in Asia

5. Evolution of the epidemic Over 6 million people in Asia are now living with HIV/AIDS

6. Lessons learned Effective national response can make a difference Source: UNAIDS/WHO

8. Lessons learned What are the ‘common’ success factors? • High level political support for a multisectoral response • Decentralised planning:  for interventions with general populations and key target groups • Interventions addressing womenandyouth, stigmaanddiscrimination • Accessible Voluntary counselling

9. Impact of school HIV education Source: AMREF 2001

10. 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

11. 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 seriousmisconceptions about HIV • Risk behaviors are practiced partly as a result of misinformation (or lack of information)

12. 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,

13. Important to remind ourselves that….…HIV education helps prepare young people for life But 3 questions : • Do school based sexuality programmes lead teenagers to have sex? • What makes a school based education programme successful? • At what age should school based programmes about sexuality begin?

14. Does school-based sexuality education lead adolescents to have sex? • 2 most comprehensive recent reviews (WHO, Kirby 2001) • Most programmes evaluated did not lead to initiation of sexual relations, or increase in sexual activity • A number led to postponement of first sex

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. How to support the National Program • Ensuring school AIDS education is a priority intervention for all young people • Reinforcing ‘quality’ in scaled-up interventions • Bringing young people into the picture-helping their ideas shape the content • Facilitating social mobilization with teachers /parents/community • Supporting partnerships