Control and Prevention of HIV/AIDS, STDs & STIs

Biography

Biography: Vicent Lwanga

Abstract

Studies on the spread of HIV/AIDS in Kapchorwa especially among youths have shown that they have poor knowledge on sexuality issues. Most young people become sexually active at a very young age when they have little or no information on their sexuality. These situations expose them to careless and casual sexual behaviors, unwanted pregnancies, which increases their risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. Worse still, is the culture of silence, which have created information gap between youths, parents, elders and health providers. Adults feel uncomfortable and unwilling to discuss sexuality education with youths because they feel that discussing with them will expose the youths to early sex. To reduce the vulnerability to HIV infection among youths, Elderly Widows Orphans Family Support has trained peer educators to facilitate the HIV/AIDS awareness and sensitization programmes for out of school youths, orphans and vulnerable children in Kapchorwa. Peer educators disseminate information on sexuality education to their peers in selected intervention sites as means of preventing HIV infection and propagating behavioral changes. A multiplier effect among peers has been recorded leading to increase in the level of knowledge of youths on HIV/AIDS. Youth are now able to discuss sexuality issues with their peers including sexual practices among youth plus the use of condom for prevention. Experience shows that adequate and correct information and involvement of influencers and religious leaders are keys to successful implementation of sexuality and reproductive health programmes.