Fonseca ZL, Reis IC, Szterenfeld C; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 2002 Jul 7-12; 14: abstract no. TuPeF5281.
PIM - Programa Integrado de Marginalidade, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
ISSUES: One of the main obstacles to consistent health protective behavior relates to substance use which may influence risk assessment and condom use negotiation. Drug education often relies only on abstinence messages and there are few educational tools based on the harm reduction paradigm. This Harm Reduction (HR) Program aims at helping young people make healthier choices for themselves and their mates. DESCRIPTION: The HR Program on Drugs and Aids is organized in Theme Units, containing five Workshops each, mediated by Directed Tasks. Groups of 25 youth are exposed to 27 workshops in 81 hours of training. Contents emphasize the construction of autonomous behavior based on unprejudiced information on drugs and on the building up of protective rather than scared attitudes. The program should be regarded as an exercise of reflection on individual and collective behavior, dealing with risk assessment, conflict resolution, decision-making and behavior change skills. It aims at forming citizens and perfecting democratic and human rights mechanisms. LESSONS LEARNED: During the last five years, this program has been implemented among low income and at risk youth in Rio's slums. Qualitative data shows that drug education based on popular education concepts leads to two main outcomes: individual and collective empowerment of the people involved (youth, parents, teachers, community leaders) and a larger awareness over issues that may facilitate or hamper protective behavior, allowing for a wider assessment of risk and harm factors and a more critical and participatory stance over social reality. RECOMMENDATIONS: AIDS prevention education based on HR should include reflection on individual behaviors and attitudes; the socio-economic-cultural context; and the governmental initiatives on the issue. HR educational tools must stress poverty and lack of community involvement as main obstacles to healthy behaviors.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Behavior
- Harm Reduction
- Health Behavior
- Health Education
- Humans
- Teaching
- education
Other ID:
UI: 102256952
From Meeting Abstracts