Background: AIDS is the leading cause of preventable death in Malawi. Increasingly young people of primary school age are becoming infected with HIV due to a lack of basic knowledge about the disease and its prevention, compounded by socio-historical factors such as cultural norms about sex and the social position of girls and women. Education is considered therefore a key prevention strategy. This study investigated whether a specially designed AIDS education, delivered by specifically trained teachers, with active involvement and participation of adults and peers, would improve pupils' understanding of AIDS and help them to adopt positive attitudes towards sex and sexual practices and behaviours. Methods: Two rural and two urban primary schools were selected to be control or intervention schools. Teachers were recruited and specially trained. Pupils from classes 6, 7 and 8 participated. Parents and the wider community of the intervention schools were involved. Knowledge, attitudes, and self-reports of adopting protective sexual behaviours were tested pre- and post-intervention. Additional data was collected in interviews. Attendances at HIV clinic were monitored, and data were collected on marriage and pregnancy rates. Results: 366 pupils completed the study. The mean scores for all study groups significantly improved in the course of the study (p<O.OO 1). However, there were greater gains in the rural intervention school: early marriages and pregnancies among the intervention schools' girls reduced; many pupils attended HIV testing clinics. In addition, adults, parents and teachers reported more open discussion about sex and HIV / AIDS and they became more positive towards teaching young people these Subjects.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:602807 |
| Date | January 2009 |
| Creators | Phiri, Fletcher Mngongonda |
| Publisher | Keele University |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
Page generated in 0.0024 seconds