17th International AIDS Conference Mexico City, Mexico - August 13 - 18, 2008

HEALTHY SEXUALITY - USING MUSEUMS AS A MEANS FOR HIV PREVENTION EDUCATION

Int Conf AIDS. 2008 Aug 13-18;17 Abstract No. MOAD0104

S. Baker¹, P. Bergstrom¹, S. Sartsara², S. Songrob¹, T. Palachai³, G. Chen³, J. Billings¹, J.W. de Lind van Wijngaarden ^4
1UNESCO, Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health Unit (ARSH), Bangkok, Thailand, ²UNESCO, HIV/AIDS and School Health Unit, Bangkok, Thailand, ³National Science Museum of Thailand, Bangkok, Thailand, ⁴UNESCO Bangkok, HIV Unit, Bangkok, Thailand

BACKGROUND: Overall HIV incidence rates have decreased in Thailand. However, partly due to difficulties integrating meaningful and comprehensive sex education programmes into regular school curricula, the rate among Thai youth has increased. Therefore, innovative means, like this museum exhibition, are necessary to reach adolescents with healthy sexuality information in a form that they are ready and willing to accept.

METHODS: This museum exhibition will provide a comprehensive, interactive and provocative examination of human sexuality to Thai adolescents. UNESCO Bangkok and the National Science Museum of Thailand, in cooperation with three ministries, namely, Public Health, Education, and Science and Technology, local NGOs, and other organizations, are developing a world-class 1000 square meter exhibition, whose three main themes are: gender, adolescents and HIV and AIDS (projected opening October 2008). More than an exhibition, it will be an exploratory “experience”, offering a thematic intersection of many aspects of sexuality, with a special emphasis on HIV and the story of Thai prevention efforts. The exhibition is expected to reach 1.2 million visitors each year, most of them students. A scaled-down version will be mounted in 11 other science museums across Thailand. Caravan buses will reach remote areas.

RESULTS: This presentation will feature a computerized walk-through of the exhibition including interactive video components, puppeteers, and ‘live’ discussions with HIV+ volunteers, with cross-cutting emphasis on gender and communication issues in relationships.

CONCLUSIONS: Sex is natural and enjoyable, fulfilling and risky, so learning about sex should be fun, provocative and engaging, while still providing necessary precautionary information, leading to healthy choices. To convey accurate information on all aspects of sexuality - especially including HIV prevention-to adolescents, innovative, out-of-formal school means must be developed. This project is one such means. The intention is that within three years, this exhibition will be adapted to reach virtually every adolescent in Thailand.

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2008-08-13
MOAD0104

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