AEGiS-15IAC: My future is my choice - Namibia's life skills programme through peer education.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

My future is my choice - Namibia's life skills programme through peer education.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. E10434)

Olson R, Gillespie A, Henderson C, Dawson C
UNICEF, New York, United States

ISSUES: Namibia-a country of 1.9 million people-has an HIV prevalence of 22.5% in adults 15-49 years. In addition to HIV/AIDS, youth are faced with complex challeges including STIs, alcohol, tobacco and drug use, sexual exploitation; and discrimination. Young people need to have adequate knowledge, attitudes and skills to solve problems, make informed choices, and protect themselves as they maneuver through adolescence into adulthood.

DESCRIPTION: Life skills-based education refers to an interactive process of teaching and learning, which enables young people to acquire knowledge, attitudes and skills which support the adoption of healthy behaviours. My Future is My Choice (MFMC) began in 1997 as a joint intervention between the Government of Namibia and UNICEF. It is designed to reach young people ages 15-18 with sexual health information and life skills development through a 20 hour peer education training course focused on teen pregnancy reduction, HIV/AIDS prevention, substance abuse, and rape. Approximately 140,000 young people around the country have attended the MFMC training since the initiative was rolled out in 1997.

LESSONS LEARNED: MFMC has been shown to be effective in reducing risk behaviour. Educating youth about HIV/AIDS, and teaching them skills in critical thinking, decision-making, conflict resolution, communication, negotiation, and coping with emotions or stress, can improve their self-confidence and ability to make informed choices. The involvement of young people in the implementation and monitoring of activities has been a key to the success of the programme.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Life skills-based education is one of many strategies required for behaviour change and development. It works best in conjunction with other strategies such as policy development, access to appropriate health services, community participation, creation of an enabling environment, and positive media coverage.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, Choice Behavior, Health Planning Guidelines, Behavior, United Nations, HIV Seropositivity, Health Services Needs and Demand, Namibia, Adult, Female, Pregnancy, education

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