“AIDS is gone. That’s what they think” (Female Participant, FGD )

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Education Changes the World “AIDS is gone. That’s what they think” (Female Participant, FGD) College and University youth in Botswana share their thoughts on HIV, risk, behaviours, needs and interventions

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“AIDS is gone. That’s what they think” (Female Participant, FGD ). College and University youth in Botswana share their thoughts on HIV, risk, behaviours, needs and interventions. Botswana Context Overview. Current Population: 2 038 228 HIV prevalence is 17.6% for the general population - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of “AIDS is gone. That’s what they think” (Female Participant, FGD )

Page 1: “AIDS is gone.  That’s  what they think”  (Female Participant,  FGD )

Education Changes the World

“AIDS is gone. That’s what they think”

(Female Participant, FGD)

College and University youth in Botswana share their thoughts on HIV, risk, behaviours, needs and interventions

Page 2: “AIDS is gone.  That’s  what they think”  (Female Participant,  FGD )

Education Changes the World

Botswana Context Overview

• Current Population: 2 038 228• HIV prevalence is 17.6% for the general

population• Estimated incidence rate is 2.7%• 2002 – Free ARVs to all citizens

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Education Changes the World

Project Rationale: teAIDS Context in 2009

• Gap in interventions, policies, access to services etc.

• Generation who has never known a life without HIV

• Youth milestones/characteristics• “College Life”• Prevalence and Incidence

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Education Changes the World

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Education Changes the World

12.3% existing prevalence + possible 20% incid. = 32.3%

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Generation who has

never lived a day

without HIV

Tertiary Life

Normal Adolescent Stress and Milestones

Gaps in Policies,

Intervention &

Access

Existing Prevalenc

e Rate

Incidence Rate

The Perfect Storm

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teAIDS Study – Purpose and ObjectivesPurpose:

Obtain a current, comprehensive and evidence-based snapshot of student’s knowledge, needs, opinions, access and behaviours, as well as to gain understanding of current prevention and support services being offered to students.

Objectives:• Appreciate students knowledge of HIV and how this

impacts/does not impact their behaviour • Determine how students have been impacted by HIV

and how this impacts/does not impact their behaviour• Provide students with a medium to identify their own

needs in terms of support and prevention –what is relevant and needed by them?

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Research Process Overview• Literature Review• Exploratory Institutional Workshops (Institutional

Head, HIV Coordinator, Student Health Rep/SRC President) for input into process, tools, best practices etc

• teAIDS Stakeholder Reference Team• Inception Document, Proposal and Tools• Ethical Considerations

– Health and Research Development Council, Institution and Student Permissions

– Confidentiality Clause, Consent Forms, Offer of Counselling

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Data Collection Tools, Units of Research, etcUnits of Research

Tools Quantity

Institution Site Visit 34Staff Self Administered Knowledge

Surveys231

Semi-Structured Interviews 237Students Self-Administered

Knowledge Surveys4312

Self-Administered, semi-structured Behaviour, Attitude, Experience and Impact Surveys

4312

Focus Groups 28

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Methodology• Self-administered surveys to 10% of

student body (n=4312)• Classes were randomly selected • Surveys contained 82 questions

(qualitative and quantitative) • Focus groups were conducted• Trained administrators & facilitators• Participation was voluntary and

anonymous• Counselling was offered

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Socio-Demographic Information Student Participants

Age

Sex Year of Study

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RESULTS

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Behaviours and Attitudes• 73% of students are currently in

relationships• 83% have engaged in sexual

intercourse.• 54% of students know their status

–Of the students who do not know their status, 55% are worried about their status

• 45% know the status of their partners

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Behaviours and Attitudes

• 59% said they would not have a partner who is HIV positive

• 79% said they would not have a sexual relationship with someone who is HIV positive

• 91% said they would not have a child with someone who is HIV positive

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Behaviours and Attitudes

• 45% said they had already engaged in sex without a condom

• 38% of students who were in a relationship said they thought their partner has other sexual partners

• 34% said they had not been absolutely faithful to their partners since their relationship started

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Needs and Gaps

• 51% said they have known a family member who has died of AIDS

• 8% said this person was a parent • 85% of students said they are not

tired of learning about HIV• 38% said condoms have

never been available since they arrived at school

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CONCLUSIONS & CURRENT STATUS

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Generation who has

never lived a day

without HIV

Tertiary Life

Normal Adolescent Stress and Milestones

Gaps in Policies,

Intervention &

Access

Existing Prevalenc

e Rate

Incidence Rate

The Perfect StormTertiary Youth

Behaviours, Attitudes

and Practices

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Conclusions• Irrespective of increased knowledge and impact from

AIDS deaths within their households and families while they were young children, the sexual practices that gave rise to our current HIV epidemic in Botswana persist among tertiary youth. Therefore, strategies that focus on prevention of HIV should remain paramount in any intervention.

• There is the capacity for the entire Education Sector (from pre-primary – lifelong learning) to act as a “Social Vaccine”, however the approach needs to be strategic, participatory, youth-driven, human resource intensive and sustainable.

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Current Status

• Results were disseminated to students, stakeholders etc.

• Conducted informed focus groups to create strategy

• Strategy completed• Proposal for funding was

successful - Botswana National AIDS Prevention Support Project (BNAPS)

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Ke a leboga• Students and staff who participated in the

research• Conference organizers for seeing the value in

this research• Tertiary Education Council • World University Service of Canada• 5 fabulous Research Assistants• Colleagues and Stakeholders • Deloitte and Touche • World Bank and National AIDS Coordinating

Agency

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It’s 100% good without using a condom, you can even think about it after sometime, ok? (male participant, FGD)

The people who spread the messages should try something new…Youth just believe that taking the ARVS and you will be safe…What they think is that when you go onto ARVS you will never get sick…AIDS is gone. That’s what they

think. (female participant, FGD)

We always hope for better things to happen in our lives.(female participant, FGD)