Preventing HIV/AIDS among Students

This project uses interpersonal interaction among peers to raise awareness about the health risks posed by HIV/AIDS. The information corners are created by peer groups in schools, and are accompanied by activities such as talks about the dangers of injecting drug use (IDU), preventative measures that can be taken during sexual activity, and stigma and discrimination.

Designed to increase and also evaluate HIV/AIDS knowledge, the initiative began by providing a pre-test evaluation to the students. For the first 6 months of the project, face-to-face meetings were carried out with each class. In the third month, the volunteer student responsible for running the information corner as a peer group was selected. In the fourth month, together with the volunteer, students created a poster and a brochure using everyday street language. In the fifth month, the peer group set up and was present at the information corner (every Friday). The final month of the project featured a post-test evaluation.

Collaboration was a hallmark of the programme, which was launched by a hospital, supported by the government, and carried out with participation of the headmasters of the local schools.

HIV/AIDS, Youth.

HKBP Balige Hospital has identified 25 cases of HIV/AIDS since 2002-2003, 90% of which are associated with IDU by those aged 17-29 years who are students in the big city. Balige is an inland town in a remote area approximately 280 miles from Aceh; the initiative is an effort to prevent young students, who are perhaps on the verge of traveling away for school or work, from bringing the disease back to Balige.