AEGiS-15IAC: Community development efforts at combatting HIV/AIDS scourge on youths in nigeria through culture and microfinance.

15th International AIDS Conference


Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

DonateNow
Print this article

Community development efforts at combatting HIV/AIDS scourge on youths in nigeria through culture and microfinance.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. D10046)

Ezeanwu AC
African Heritage Foundation for Human Development, Lagos, Nigeria

ISSUES: Poverty within the communities in Nigeria as well as ignorance have led to the widespread of HIV/AIDS infection. Amongst other problems faced due to poverty were teenage pregnancies, marriages, robbery amongst the boys and with the lack of positively sustaining activities, there was a negative trend towards sexual promiscuity for sustainance. This has led to large scale infection and a decrease in economic output since most of the young ones affected were economically active with dependants

DESCRIPTION: Using interpersonal efforts at the community level and reigniting the awareness of local positive culture that were reponsible for the postive behaviour of the older generation while at the same time using microfinancing to help them in creating work opportunities for sustainable development of the family and the community. Also the creation of youth associations tageed 'Return to Innocence', helped in youth advocacy and solidarity that brought other youths from different communities outside the pilot area spporting and initiating the same in their zones

LESSONS LEARNT: Observations showed a high reduction in risky behaviours while affecting the lifestyle of the youths. Behaviour change came about with the introduction of microfinance where idleness was prevalent and helped in propagating sexual proliferation in youths. Recoomendations: Using community self help project funding, we are instituting a revolving fund to help develop the youths in small scale / microfinance enterprises, education and sustainable health care for the rural indigenes.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, Social Change, Culture, HIV Infections, Sexual Behavior, Nigeria, Demography, Residence Characteristics, Health Behavior, Infection, Behavior, Adolescent, Humans, Male, Adolescence, ethnology, economics, education

040711
D10046

Copyright © 2004 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.