AEGiS-15IAC: STD/HIV/AIDS Prevention in Nepalese Schools/colleges youths: Does Peer Education Works?

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

STD/HIV/AIDS Prevention in Nepalese Schools/colleges youths: Does Peer Education Works?

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. D10256)

Gautam RK
BP Memorial Health Foundation, Kathmandu, Nepal

BACKGROUND: To determine impact of KAB regarding, sexual and ARH, HIV/AIDS and STD, peer education activities among school/college students of Kathmandu and Kaski Districts of Nepal.

METHODS: The evaluation was done comparing results of final survey with baseline survey. In baseline and final survey 792 (7.4%) and 596 (7.1%) students from 16 selected schools and 15 colleges were selected through stratified random sampling for participation in the survey and completed the questionnaire (14-22 years) participated respectively.

RESULTS: The higher level of knowledge increased 71.9 to 93.8% & prevention 42.4 to 94.3% whereas misconception reduced (mosquito bite 37 to 16%. Knowledge about reproductive physiology increased moderately e.g. safe period 23-59%, sex determination 31.5 to 66%, organ where baby develops 54 to 89%. Regarding risk behavior premarital sex 11 to 11.7 approval rate 34 to 31% & mean age of first sex 15.5 to 16.3%. Similarly those who have seen condom increased 64 to 88% & its use 77 to 91% while having sex & sex against their will changed 27.3 to 24%. Drug use (currently using) among college male changed from overall-37 to 25% & in injecting drug 10.4 to 0.8%. Most of the students favor of sex education at schools 86.4%. 27.4% said it is okay to have pre-marital sex. Almost half 44% regarded friends to be the most informative source of knowledge about sex 25.6% said they have currently love affair out of which 14.7% reported sexual relation who considered peer as main source of information 44 to 65%.

CONCLUSIONS: The peer education has brought positive changes in all aspects of knowledge, attitude and behavior though changes are less dramatic where baseline was high. Students have identified peer-educators as most significant source of information and very high proportion of student knew about their activity. It seems that peer education has significant influence among friends to behave 'safer' way and reduce drug abuse.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, Schools, Sexual Behavior, Sex Education, HIV Infections, Students, Peer Group, Knowledge, Data Collection, Coitus, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Work, Evaluation Studies, Research, Questionnaires, Behavior, Nepal, Adolescent, Humans, Infant, Male, education

040711
D10256