Kepka D; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 2000 Jul 9-14; 13: abstract no. TuOrE341.

D. Kepka, Jamaica AIDS Support, 1A Holborn Road, Kingston 10, Jamaica, Tel.: +876 755 33 17, Fax: +876 978 78 76, E-mail: dlkepka@kasnet.com

Issues: Worldwide, the Caribbean and Latin America rank just below Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia with regard to cumulative AIDS deaths through 1999. Inner-city Jamaicans particularly reflect a high risk for HIV/AIDS contraction. Overall, Jamaica AIDS Support's Life Skills Programme aims to effect behavior change among 40 inner-city youth ages 9-16 in the squatter community of Mandela Terrace, Kingston. As gathered in a confidential pretest not requiring literacy, 100% of the participants know a victim of rape and over 50% have had sexual intercourse without a condom. Description: Within the programme, a priority is sexual behavior: delaying first sexual intercourse and encouraging safer sex practices aiming to prevent the spread of HIV. Healthy behavior change is embedded in the context of self-esteem. Using the performing arts as a tool with strong cultural influence to increase self-esteem and to promote healthy lifestyle messages, the programme includes about 25 hours of activities per week. To ensure programme sustainability and to increase community participation, the staff members represent four citizens from the target community, along with three peer mentors and one technical consultant from the nearby Hope for Children Development Company. Conclusions: Upon completion of the first full year the following data are depicted. On the pretest, 50% of the participants responded that they feel like a failure all of the time and 20% confirmed this response on the posttest. Participants expressing that they are able to discuss their problems with others increased from 25% to 90%. Participants supporting the myth that having sex with a virgin cures sexually transmitted diseases decreased from 70% to 50%. In conclusion, participants feeling comfortable refusing sexual intercourse increased from 50% to 85%.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Africa South of the Sahara
• Asia, Southeastern
• Behavior
• Caribbean Region
• Child
• Coitus
• Communication
• Condoms
• Demography
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Humans
• Jamaica
• Latin America
• Organizations
• Peer Group
• Sexual Behavior
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases
• education

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0002413

UI: 102239907

From Meeting Abstracts