AEGiS-14IAC: Chiang Rai School-Based AIDS education model: curricula-integrated, comprehensive activities, and community participation.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Chiang Rai School-Based AIDS education model: curricula-integrated, comprehensive activities, and community participation.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. D11099)

Phuanukunnon P, Supawitkul S, Sinsomboontong S, Supawitkul B
Damrongras-songkrau School, Chiang Rai, Thailand

ISSUES: Development of comprehensive, effective and efficient School-based AIDS education model is crucial to cope with the Increasing trend of HIV transmission among young populations.

DESCRIPTION: Thailand's northernmost province, Chiang Rai, has faced severe HIV epidemic since early 1990s. The official figures of AIDS cases, AIDS related deaths, and AIDS affected children, during 1988-2001, were 20,600, 5,287, and 3,287 cases respectively. 15.9% was youths with increasing trends. The conventional AIDS education (lectures and passive learning) was implemented with observed minimal change in risk behaviours. A study in 15-21 years old youths revealed high rate of sexual activity (48% of males and 43% of females) with low rate of consistent condom use (16% of males and 11% of females). In 2000, a new model was initiated in a secondary school, 3,041students, by combining multi-strategies of curricula-integrated AIDS issues, comprehensive activities of AIDS prevention, care and peer support, and community participation. The student-centered and active learning approach using a student club and 43 student volunteers. Students discussed, exercised, and consulted HIV/AIDS issues in every subjects with peers, teachers and parents, operated AIDS campaign in school and communities, organized home and hospital visits for PWAs, and participated in AIDS activities with community organizations. They also created AIDS supporting environment in school and communities by raising fund to support AIDS affected children, self-implemented AIDS programmes with health sector-school-parents-communities participation and consultation. This model made students, parents, teachers and communities learn and response to AIDS crisis together.

LESSON LEARNED: Continued learning HIV/AIDS in curricular and experiencing from providing care for PWAs with community members in real situations lead to truly and deeply understanding of HIV/AIDS and affect in risk-behaviour reduction among youth.

Keywords: AEGIS, Health Education, Schools, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Curriculum, HIV Infections, Sex Behavior, Risk-Taking, Students, Adolescent Behavior, Teaching, Voluntary Workers, Thailand, Adolescent, Human, Female, Male, Child, prevention & control

020707
D11099