Varma S; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 2002 Jul 7-12; 14: abstract no. MoPeD3633.
NGO, Jaipur, India
ISSUES: Rajasthan is a feudal, conservative, poor state Although the apparent HIV prevalence rate is low, students need to be aware about HIV/AIDS.Shantideep has been working in schools and colleges in Jaipur for three years to spread awareness and develop students as peer educators in their institutions. An oral presentation on the project was made at the V ICAAP and a number of suggestions were made which have been incorporated in a new project with remarkable success. Hence this presentation. DESCRIPTION: The new project has incorporated a greater focus on developing communication skills with a Training of Trainers component . The duration in each institution has been increased to three days and two sessions have been included on sexual and reproductive health. The change has been accepted with remarkable success in girls' institutions. The last TOT was well attended. Because most participants, especially girls, come from highly conservative poor families, we take special permission from their guardians and keep the principals closely involved in the project. This has been another successful strategy. The three-day workshops have only one or two lectures. The rest consist of participatory techniques like role plays, discussions and exercises on communication. Audio-visual techniques are widely used.. LESSONS LEARNT: There is a big gap in the knowledge not only about HIV/AIDS but also essential areas like menstruation and masturbation. The knowledge about STDs is also mising. So many questions followed the workshop that the last day was always extended into late evenings. It is vitally necessary to fill this gap in knowledge about sex, HIV/AIDS and reproductive health. Families and formal education are unable to fill it. Skills provided were immediately used by the students with their siblings and friends. RECOMMENDATIONS: In conservative Rajasthan such projects need to be extended widely especially in the tribal, desert and areas of tourist interest.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Adolescent
- Communication
- Female
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Health
- Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
- Health Planning
- Humans
- India
- Peer Group
- Schools
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- Students
- Teaching
- United States
- education
Other ID:
UI: 102256501
From Meeting Abstracts