Obi GO; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 2002 Jul 7-12; 14: abstract no. ThPeF8148.
Community Based Organisation, Lagos, Nigeria
A VOLUNTEER VOWS TO REDUCE HIV INFECTION AMONG YOUTHS - A SQUALID COMMUNITY ENCOUNTER. ISSUES: In 1998 in Nigeria, young people between the ages of 15-24 years accounted for 60% of the 20,334 AIDS cases and the prevalence rate among this group ranged from 4.2 to 9.7%,on zonal basis. This high rate of HIV infection among the youths in Nigeria and my resource-poor community in particular are mainly caused by neglect by Government, ignorance, poverty, etc. In the light of the above, an aggressive HIV/AIDS preventive campaigns by way of Information, Education and Communication in tune with the demand of the POOREST of the poor inhabitants of the community was formulated and successfully executed. DESCRIPTION: This paper will examine some myths, harmful traditional practices etc. associated with AIDS in the community. Many community members believe that sexual intercourse with a virgin will cure an HIV positive patient of the virus. To correct this fallacy and many more, various ways of preventing HIV infections including abstinence, regular and correct use of latex condoms etc. became a regular ideal lectures in the community. This paper is based on personal involvement as HIV/AIDS-volunteer worker/youth leader of a Community Based- Organization and a member of the Nigerian National Committee of the International Year of Volunteers(IYV2001)/Focal person IYV 2001 Imo State Chapter. LESSONS LEARNED: Through series of grassroots educational programmes on Prevention of HIV infection among the youths, the young peoples' behavior, attitude and life style improved hence less vulnerable to HIV infection. RECOMMENDATIONS: This research recommends that HIV/AIDS education programmes in Nigeria be carried to neglected resource-poor communities that lack access to HIV/AIDS prevention instead of duplicating efforts in urban areas.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Adolescent
- Condoms
- Demography
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Health Education
- Humans
- Nigeria
- Poverty
- Prevalence
- Residence Characteristics
- Virus Diseases
- Voluntary Workers
- education
Other ID:
UI: 102257014
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