Ball A, Howard J, Donoghoe M, Rana S, Riley L, Weiler G, Widdus D; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1998; 12: 895 (abstract no. 43244).
World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
ISSUE: Street children, and other EVYP, are a difficult to reach population in which HIV and substance use risk practices are prevalent. Innovative HIV and substance use preventive interventions are necessary. PROJECT: Since 1992 the WHO Programme on Substance Abuse has been refining a methodology to deliver substance use prevention and treatment interventions specifically targeted to street children in differing circumstances in over 25 countries. The WHO Street Children Project comprises rapid assessment strategies, the development of site-specific interventions for prevention and care, and methods for monitoring and evaluation. A package for training of street educators and a manual on programme monitoring and evaluation provide comprehensive information and skill development activities. During the development of these methodologies and resources, qualitative data on HIV/STD and substance use risk behaviours were collected. Evaluation has indicated that it is well suited for the delivery of HIV/AIDS prevention. Consequently, in association with UNAIDS, the Project has been expanded to strengthen HIV prevention interventions. RESULTS: The draft training package has been used for training over 700 street educators and others in 19 cities. Over 2,500 street children from those cities participated in focus groups. Evaluation from the training and feedback from the focus groups has informed the revision of the training package and methodology, which has now incorporated HIV/AIDS material. The package will now be disseminated and adapted for use to target other EVYP, such as refugees, urban poor, indigenous youth. LESSONS LEARNED: A general training package aimed at street and other EVYP can be effective in particular sites if it is not too proscriptive, but allows for local adaptations based on rapid assessment, youth participation, community involvement and informal strategic planning activities.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Child
- Evaluation Studies
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Humans
- Population
- Substance Abuse, Intravenous
- Substance-Related Disorders
- education
- prevention & control
Other ID:
UI: 102231410
From Meeting Abstracts