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Seeking better ways to teach youth about AIDS.


 AIDS prevention efforts are confounded in countries where poverty and lack of resources are prevalent. The World Health Organization estimates that about 50% of HIV infections worldwide occur among people aged under 25 years. Adolescents are also particularly affected by high rates of sexually transmitted diseases. One of the barriers to reducing transmission of HIV infections is the ambivalent attitudes of adults to adolescent sexuality. Another barrier is resistance to sex education programs due to fear that sex education promotes earlier or increased sexual activity. The message of "no sex before marriage" is not reaching youth. Marriage age is being delayed, but traditional family units are ineffective when students are away from home. Women's low status is another barrier to AIDS prevention. In Zimbabwe, an educational effort is being directed to eight and nine year olds. The message is a warning about "sugar daddies" or older men seeking the sexual favors of young girls in exchange for money or resources. In Thailand, AIDS education is incorporated into the primary level schools as "Life Experience" and "Character and Development." Positive attitudes and solving personal and social problems are addressed. On the secondary level, the focus is on how students can protect themselves from sexual diseases and on AIDS information. AIDS awareness is taught through writing and art competitions. Prominent artists and movie stars draw attention to AIDS and other adolescent sexual issues. Evaluation of such programs is just beginning. Some preliminary findings from seven evaluation projects reveals that discussion within families increases after exposure to AIDS information in the curriculum, and many school officials are now more aware of the importance of condom use. In Uganda, findings from an AIDS education project show that youth are knowledgeable about AIDS, but actions remain unaffected. The concern is that education is too late or may be inappropriate to meet the needs of adolescents. Information dissemination and skill-building are essential components of AIDS education. Love and intimacy need to be learned in appropriate ways. People must take responsibility for their actions. Risk reduction options need to be offered.
