Peer sexuality educators' accounts of their work reveal two approaches to empathy with their students: affinity and alliance. ‘Affinity-based empathy’ rests on the idea that the more commonalities sexuality educators and students share (or perceive they share), the more they will be able to empathise with one another, while ‘alliance-based empathy’ is an analytical process of considering the social contexts that shape others' lives. We assess the potential for each source of empathy to equip peer sexuality educators to counter hierarchical models of teaching and learning, effect social change and promote the interests of youth. Because shared identity categories prove difficult to manage and sustain, we find affinity alone does not offer peer sexuality educators lasting opportunities to work with young people. In contrast, developing alliance-based empathy prepares peer educators – indeed, all sexuality educators – to identify inequalities or barriers that others face and seek ways to foster social change. We conclude with recommendations for future research.

Objective: The substantial prevalence of HIV in Africa underscores the urgent need for effective HIV prevention programs. This paper reports the results of an effectiveness trial for the I Choose Life-Africa (ICL) HIV prevention program carried out among Kenyan university students.Methods: Longitudinal data was analyzed from182 student volunteers, randomized to an intervention or control group. The intervention group received training as HIV prevention peer educators with a 32 hour theoretically based curriculum. All students were given a pretest survey assessing HIV related attitudes, intentions, knowledge and behaviors and repeated the survey 3 times over the next 6 months. Data was analyzed using Linear Mixed Models (LMM) or Generalized Linear Models (GLM) to compare the rate of change on 13 dependent variables that examined sexual risk behavior (broadly defined). Monitoring data on the types of HIV prevention messages delivered by the peer educators was obtained.Results: Based on multi level models, the slope coefficients for 4 variables showed small but reliable change in the hoped for direction: abstinence from oral, vaginal, or anal sex in the last two months, condom attitudes, HIV testing, and refusal skill. The intervention demonstrated evidence of non-zero slope coefficients in the hoped for direction on 12 of 13 dependent variables. Trained peer educators delivered HIV prevention messages in a one- to- one format 1,862 times and reached 1,819 students through small group sessions. Messages were delivered at larger group thematic sessions that were attended by a total of 5,970 persons. Condom distribution projects resulted in 3,742 male and 796 female condoms being distributed, and 268 individuals were referred for HIV testing.Conclusion: The ICL peer education training appears effective in reducing sexual risk behavior and training students to promote HIV prevention messages.

No description available.

Magister Public Health - MPH / The aim of this study was to describe the health seeking behaviours, knowledge about the available services, as well as experiences, and barriers to access and utilization of the reproductive health services among male adolescents in Lusaka. A descriptive, qualitative study was conducted among male adolescents in a peri-urban setting in Lusaka. Four focus group discussions were conducted with 46 adolescents aged between 13 and 24 years of age, and six key informant interviews. Data was audio-tape recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic content analysis was done. Health concerns were related to the social, psychological, societal and puberty needs of participants. Concerns, questions and queries about masturbation were common, especially among the younger adolescents. Most problems related to puberty and body changes rather than sexual and reproductive health matters per se. Knowledge about the available sexual and reproductive health services was generally low, with some young men being completely unaware of the existence of youth friendly services at the local clinic. Contrary to popular opinion, adolescents in this community reported that they did not seek help on sexual matters from friends and did not want to discuss their problems with their peers, due to fears of being marginalized. Perceived gender, cultural and social norms, lack of knowledge about the availability of adolescent reproductive health services, and poor attitudes among the health care providers were some of the identified barriers to seeking health care. Adolescents perceived health providers to be judgmental, not helpful and condescending towards young people. Lack of privacy and confidentiality were also reported as barriers to access and utilization of sexual and reproductive health services

Submitted by Anderson Silva (avargas@icict.fiocruz.br) on 2012-05-09T18:22:39Z No. of bitstreams: 1 rosangela_fc_rosa_ioc_ebs_0012_2010.pdf: 577711 bytes, checksum: ea74dd88d3355c39c1a7381a30dcc1ad (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2012-05-09T18:22:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 rosangela_fc_rosa_ioc_ebs_0012_2010.pdf: 577711 bytes, checksum: ea74dd88d3355c39c1a7381a30dcc1ad (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Secretaria de Educação do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Colégio Estadual Nilo Peçanha, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil / O estudo analisa o perfil e as atividades educativas desenvolvidas por um grupo de jovens que participaram como multiplicadores de um Programa Governamental de Prevenção em DST/AIDS, voltado para escolas públicas no Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Este programa, implementado nos anos de 2006 e 2007, realiza oficinas de formação sobre DST/AIDS e gravidez não planejada para jovens estudantes da rede pública com o objetivo de promover a Educação entre Pares sobre saúde sexual e reprodutiva no contexto escolar. A partir de entrevistas em profundidade com nove jovens multiplicadores, do sexo feminino, na faixa de 17 a 21 anos, o trabalho discute a contribuição da estratégia de Educação entre Pares para as ações de promoção da saúde sexual e reprodutiva no contexto escolar e para a trajetória pessoal dos multiplicadores. Os achados revelam que a formação recebida pelas multiplicadoras, somada a interação com profissionais das áreas de educação e saúde, contribuiu para o desenvolvimento de ações de cunho participativo e dialógico sobre saúde sexual e reprodutiva no contexto escolar. A experiência como multiplicador colaborou para a aquisição de conhecimentos sobre temas ligados à sexualidade, para o amadurecimento pessoal e ampliação das perspectivas acadêmicas e profissionais das jovens. Todavia, as entrevistadas encontram dificuldades em adotar práticas de sexo mais seguro nos próprios relacionamentos estáveis, reiterando a importância da abordagem das relações de gênero nas ações educativas relativas à saúde sexual e reprodutiva. Os resultados sugerem que a estratégia da Educação entre Pares deve ser considerada por gestores de políticas públicas em saúde no contexto escolar. / The study analyzes the profile and educational activities of a group of young peer educators who has participated in a Governmental Prevention Program of STD/AIDS directed to public high schools in Rio de Janeiro. This program, applied since 2006 and 2007, has led STD/AIDS and unplanned pregnancy workshops for young students from these public high schools in order to promote peer education on sexual and reproductive health. From in-depth interviews with nine peer educators, women aging from 17 to 21 years old, the paper discusses the contribution of the strategy of peer education for actions to promote sexual and reproductive health in the school context and the personal trajectory of multipliers. The findings reveal that the training received by the multipliers, plus the interaction with health and education professionals, contributed to the development of practical activities and dialogue on sexual and reproductive health. The experience as a multiplier worked for the acquisition of knowledge on topics related to sexuality and personal maturation and for the expansion of their academic and professional perspectives. However, the interviewees have faced difficulties adopting safer sex practices in their own stable relationships, reaffirming the importance of approaching gender relations in sexual and reproductive health educational activities. The results suggest that the strategy of peer education should be considered by health policy makers in the school context.

In South Africa the idea of a peer helping service has gained impetus and is viewed as a viable option given the fact that there is a shortage of professional school-counsellors and complementary care-givers in the public school environment. This research emanated from an awareness that there was a need to develop an objective assessment tool regarding the identification of peer-counsellors. This instigated an investigation of the essential criteria, predominant characteristics and requirements of effective peer-counsellors. The primary focus of this research has been to develop a self-assessment instrument that will assist in the identification and selection of potential peer-counsellors. The self-assessment instrument proved to be a valuable tool in discriminating between good, average and weak peer-counsellors. Findings indicate that the self-assessment instrument should be used in conjunction with other modes of assessment such as the self-report data, teacher ratings and peer ratings. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

Preventing teenagers’ pregnancies and improving teenagers’ reproductive health are important as pregnancies in teenagers still represent an important health challenge in Cameroon. The purpose of this dissertation of a limited scope was to describe the perception of peer educators who underwent the ‘100% young’ peer education training and the effect it had on their own sexual behaviour. A qualitative descriptive, explorative and contextual research design was conducted. Data collection was done using in-depth interviews. Fifteen peer educators were purposively selected. Two questions were asked namely; please describe how you perceived the peer education training that you underwent and, describe how this training affected your own sexual behaviour. Findings revealed that participants had a positive education experience, positive personal growth and for many, that was enough to become mentors for their peers and build awareness. Recommendations propose that interventions such as the ‘100% young’ are urgently required to prevent teenage pregnancy. / Health Studies / M.P.H.

In South Africa the idea of a peer helping service has gained impetus and is viewed as a viable option given the fact that there is a shortage of professional school-counsellors and complementary care-givers in the public school environment. This research emanated from an awareness that there was a need to develop an objective assessment tool regarding the identification of peer-counsellors. This instigated an investigation of the essential criteria, predominant characteristics and requirements of effective peer-counsellors. The primary focus of this research has been to develop a self-assessment instrument that will assist in the identification and selection of potential peer-counsellors. The self-assessment instrument proved to be a valuable tool in discriminating between good, average and weak peer-counsellors. Findings indicate that the self-assessment instrument should be used in conjunction with other modes of assessment such as the self-report data, teacher ratings and peer ratings. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

Text in English / Preventing teenagers’ pregnancies and improving teenagers’ reproductive health are important as pregnancies in teenagers still represent an important health challenge in Cameroon. The purpose of this dissertation of a limited scope was to describe the perception of peer educators who underwent the ‘100% young’ peer education training and the effect it had on their own sexual behaviour. A qualitative descriptive, explorative and contextual research design was conducted. Data collection was done using in-depth interviews. Fifteen peer educators were purposively selected. Two questions were asked namely; please describe how you perceived the peer education training that you underwent and, describe how this training affected your own sexual behaviour. Findings revealed that participants had a positive education experience, positive personal growth and for many, that was enough to become mentors for their peers and build awareness. Recommendations propose that interventions such as the ‘100% young’ are urgently required to prevent teenage pregnancy. / Health Studies / M.P.H.