HIV Prevention in Africa :: HIV in Africa

human immunodeficiency virus prevention in AfricaA continuing rise in the number of human immunodeficiency virus infected plurality is not inevitable. There is emergence evidence that prevention efforts can be effective, and this includes initiatives in some of the most heavily affected countries.One new study in Zambia has shown success in prevention efforts. The study reported that urban men and women are less sexually active, that fewer had multiple partners and that condoms were used more consistently. This is in line with findings that HIV prevalence has declined significantly among 15-29 year-old urban women (down to 24.1% in 1999 from 28.3% in 1996). Although these rates are still unacceptably high, this drop has prompted a hope that, if Zambia continues this response, it could become the second African country to reverse a devastating epidemic. This suggests that awareness campaigns and prevention programs are now starting to work. But a major challenge is to sustain and image on such uncertain success. What form should assist learning take?Peer educationA social form of education without classrooms or notebooks, where people are educated outside a school environment but still have the opportunity to ask questions.Most peer education focuses on providing selective information about HIV transmission, answering questions and handing out condoms to people in a workplace, perhaps in a bar, or where a group of women gather to dampen clothes.Most peer educators make contact with their target audience at least weekly and their sessions will usually be in the context of escaped discussions with individual people or within a group. Active learningActive learning can sometimes link into peer education, especially when AIDS education is aimed at young people, as one of the best methods of learning something oneself is to teach it to others.Blanket educationA general message aimed at the universe as a whole. Blanket education usually aims to inform the pop ulation about which behaviors are risky and to give them support in changing these behaviors. Targeted educationThis type of strategy is usually used to speak to social groups who are perceived as being at a high risk of HIV infection. It focuses on risky activities particular to the specific target group. AFRICA ALIVEJanuary of 2000 kicked off the campaign to literally help keep Africa Alive in the new millennium. The mission of the Africa Alive campaign is to give youth the skills they need to fight against HIV/AIDS. The vision is a new generation of Africans who are HIV/AIDS-free.