AEGiS-15IAC: How primary school children make a difference in HIV/AIDS prevention.

15th International AIDS Conference


Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

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How primary school children make a difference in HIV/AIDS prevention.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. E10294)

Reynolds HD
Community Development Department Ministry of Social Transformation, Bridgetown, Barbados

BACKGROUND: Barbados is a small island state in the Caribbean Sea and is densely populated with over two hundred and sixty eight inhabitants at the last census, and it is divided into eleven parishes. The Caribbean Region is said to have the fastest growing HIV/AIDS epidemic outside of Sub-Saharan Africa, and education is used as an important tool in the prevention of new HIV infections. Universal access to antiretoviral therapy has recently been introduced.

METHODS: The Community Development Department, in the Ministry of Social Transformation, selected a committee of 10, and together they developed intervention strategies to educate and sensitize students between 7and 10 years old in the parish of St George. Teachers did their part in the 5 schools. The exercise was evaluated through a fine arts extravaganza, depicting the HIV/AIDS awareness of the students following their education. Seventy posters were submitted, which depicts images, messages, and paintings.

RESULTS: The response from this community, generated an extension to the project which has proven to be both educational and HIV sensitive. A number of posters were adjudged good enough to be used as artwork for school book covers.

CONCLUSION: This exercise in just one of the island's eleven parishes indicates that the HIV/AIDS information was well received and understood. The project has demostrated its effectiveness, and the outreach value to all schools has the potential to extend much further a-field. Primary school children can come on board in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, Schools, Students, HIV Infections, Africa South of the Sahara, Teaching, Caribbean Region, Barbados, Oceans and Seas, Child, Humans, prevention & control, education

040711
E10294

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