|
13th International AIDS ConferenceDurban, South Africa - July 9-July 14, 2000 |
Int Conf AIDS 2000 Jul 9-14; 13:(abstract no. MoOrB183)
Ferris M, Calles N, Simon C, Schwarzwald H, Hockenberry-Eaton M, Kline M
M. Ferris, Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative, Texas Children's Hospital, 6621 Fannin Street, MC 1-4000, Houston, Texas 77030-2399, United States, Tel.: +1 713 770 1066, Fax: +1 713 770 1281, E-mail: mgferris@texaschildrenshospital.org
ISSUES: Many challenges exist to overcoming the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS in southern Africa. These include limited financial resources, a multitude of other health priorities in these countries, and lack of appropriately trained and skilled health professionals. Nurses typically provide most of the basic health care services for people living with HIV/AIDS. Therefore nursing education regarding HIV/AIDS within southern Africa is a critical step towards abating this pandemic.
DESCRIPTION: This paper will describe a process of international collaborative curriculum development with schools of nursing in southern Africa. This program is funded through the Bristol-Myers Squibb Secure the Future initiative. The Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative, in collaboration with partner institutions in South Africa, Swaziland, Botswana, and Lesotho, has developed a comprehensive HIV/AIDS nursing curriculum in a modular format. Each module can be used independently or the modules can be used together as a complete undergraduate course on HIV/AIDS. Modules cover topics such as: pain management, nutrition, prevention of perinatal transmission, prevention of sexual transmission, pathophysiology of HIV, and others. Curriculum materials have been developed and "train the trainer" sessions have been conducted to instruct nursing faculty in becoming HIV educators.
CONCLUSIONS: Nursing education raises the level of knowledge of the individuals caring for people living with HIV/AIDS. It is important that nurses understand the signs and symptoms of HIV/AIDS, the prescribed treatment, and the associated side effects, as they may be the first health care providers to identify these symptoms and initiate intervention. Increased knowledge empowers nurses to become advocates for patients. Finally, when done in the context of train the trainer, nursing education is a public health intervention in itself, as nurses become skilled community health educators.
Copyright © 2000 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.
