11th International AIDS Conference


Vancouver, British Columbia — July 7-12, 1996

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Participatory approach in the campaign against AIDS/STDs in schools.

Int Conf AIDS 1996 Jul 7-12; 11:35 (abstract no. LB.D.6068)
Goungou ES, Dikewu A, Clavreul J, Grunitzky-Bekele M, Ouyi W; Lome, Togo.

OBJECTIVE: To bring students to be actively involved in the prevention of STDs/AIDS and to adopt responsible behaviors. To provide for the needs of information and training of students in the domains dealing with affection, sex and STDs/AIDS. Method: Training of 578 Inspectors, Advisers and Teachers of the 300 Colleges to the participatory approach and to the planning of appropriate didactic implements; images box and linguistic means. Participation of students to the conception of didactic material. Recourse to resourceful persons (Hospital Complex, Family Planning Association). Introduction of courses dealing with AIDS in the official curriculum of Colleges. Organization of cultural activities by students through competitive exams of drawing, poetry conferences, kermesses, plays, songs recital... etc. Inquiry by anonymous questionnaire with students.

RESULTS: Over the 127,289 students of Colleges of Togo, 92 percent consider AIDS as a danger for young students. Multiplication of anti-AIDS, Family Planning, UNESCO, MESSIDA, AESI Clubs. Sexuality, which was considered as taboo before the participatory approach, is easily and simply discussed by students, teachers and parents. Condoms are sold and bought by students near schools on Wednesdays and week-ends. In the pilot College of Wuiti, personal medical books show a fall of the rate of STDs from 47 cases in 1994 to 9 cases in 1995 over 1,300 students. A fall of the rate of unwanted pregnancies from 7 cases in 1994 to 2 cases in 1995.

CONCLUSION: From November 1993 to December 1995, 127,289 students are involved in the campaign against AIDS in school. Taking into account these results, from January 1996 on and at the request of teachers this program of education will be extended to students of technical and high schools.

960707
LBD6068

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