AEGiS-11IAC: AIDS education among adolescents in Uganda: an evaluation of the "straight talk" media program.

11th International AIDS Conference

Vancouver, British Columbia — July 7-12, 1996

AIDS education among adolescents in Uganda: an evaluation of the "straight talk" media program.

Int Conf AIDS 1996 Jul 7-12; 11:485 (abstract no. Pub.D.1309)
Proscovia S, Tamwesigire E, Meinert L; Uganda Red Cross Society, Kampala, Uganda.

"STRAIGHT TALK" (ST) a media program to Safeguard Youth From AIDS (SYFA) was initiated in 1993 as a strategy to develop and stimulate dialogue on AIDS, health and growing up among young people, their parents and teachers. An appraisal of the fourteen month program was commissioned by UNICEF in January 1995.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the extent ST is reaching its target groups; assess the relevance and balance of topics covered by ST in relation to SYFA; and assess the success, acceptability and impact of ST as perceived by the target groups in relations to the SYFA objective.

METHODS: A content analysis of the media (print, TV, radio) ST activities using a data base matrix, key informants and focus group discussions in five districts - Kampala, Kumi, Mbarara, Mpigi and Lira were conducted to elicit information from selected target groups and key persons in the project.

RESULTS: There is general consensus among the target population that ST is educative, informative and effective in breaking the cultural taboos surrounding sex education - a pre-requisite in the effective control of AIDS. Of the three media used to encourage adolescents to delay sex or practice safer sex, the print media has been the most popular with a monthly circulation of 90,000 copies country-wide. The ST project has, to a very large extent, succeeded in reaching out to the adolescents in spite of cultural reservations from the adult audience (teachers and parents).

CONCLUSIONS: The empowerment of adolescents with knowledge, information and advice to understand their bodies and emotions to cope safely with sexual feelings is vital in controlling the spread of STD/HIV. The success and desired impact of the project has been significantly influenced by cultural acceptance.

Keywords: AEGIS, Program Evaluation, Sex Education, Adolescent, Delivery of Health Care, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Health Education, School Health Services, Focus Groups, Data Collection, Health Services Needs and Demand, Behavior, Health, Safe Sex, Uganda, Human, Adolescence, Adult, prevention & control, nursing, ICA11

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