AEGiS-15IAC: Children 7-11 years old in Barbados making a different in HIV/AIDS prevention.

15th International AIDS Conference


Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

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Children 7-11 years old in Barbados making a different in HIV/AIDS prevention.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. E10289)

Reynolds HD
Institution, Bridgetown, Barbados

ISSUES: Barbados is an Island state in the Caribbean sea with a population of approximately two hundred and sixty eight thousand and its land mass is divided into eleven parishes. In the Parish of St. George a committee of ten persons were selected to develop intervention strategies to sensitize the communities adults and children on HIV/AIDS prevention. This project was directed by the Community Development Department of the Ministry of Social Transformation, as a part of the national HIV/AIDS response in the Parish of St. George.

DESCRIPTION: Teachers in the participation schools were expected to educate students on the topic of HIV/AIDS prior to the start of the project. Seven primary schools with children ages 7-11 years were invited to participate in a fine arts extravaganza depicting their HIV/AIDS awareness. Seventy posters were submitted and were judged by a committee.

LESSONS LEARNED: The standard of the response generated a further extension to the project. The posters chosen were then used as artwork for covers of text books and exercise books for schools. The posters include messages and drawings by the children which are educational and HIV/AIDS sensitive. With a small funding grant, exercise books are printed wuth the educational messages and are available nation wide. Recommendation: This project is efective in its outreach to all schools and children and as an educational tool should be extended much further a-field.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, HIV Infections, Schools, Students, Population, Teaching, Public Policy, Research, Barbados, Caribbean Region, Oceans and Seas, Child, Humans, Adult, prevention & control, economics

040711
E10289

Copyright © 2004 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.