| Country: |
Lebanon |
|
Ministry: |
Ministry of Public Health |
| Address: |
National AIDS Control Program
Quarantina- Lebanon |
| Tel: |
961-1 566100/1 |
| Fax: |
96-1-566102 |
| E-mail: |
wholeb_nap@inco.com.lb |
| Activity Title: |
Survey on Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs and Practices of Lebanese Secondary School students in Relation to HIV/AIDS |
| Duration: |
1994 |
| Researcher: |
The study was implemented, edited and revised for the National Aids Control Program by Dr. Abdo Jurjus, National Focal Point for Research at the NAP. |
| Partners: |
Ministry of Public Health, National Aids Control Program, and is supported by the World Health Organization. |
| Objectives: |
1. To assess knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices (KABP) of Lebanese Secondary School students concerning HIV/AIDS;
2. To outline educational needs and intervention priorities in the school environment using the collected information;
3. To orient the design of HIV/AIDS health promotion activities in Secondary Schools including identification of appropriate and culturally sensitive channels, messages, and materials. |
| Purpose: |
This study aimed at testing the validity of the following hypotheses:
1. The level of knowledge on HIV/AIDS modes of transmission, related risk behaviors and preventive methods, variable among the Lebanese Secondary School students, and is directly related to cultural and socio-economic factors;
2. The majority of the secondary school students in Lebanon does not recognize their group vulnerability and show misconceptions and poor attitudes towards safe sex practices;
3. The student population in the secondary schools shows significant discrimination and stigmatization against HIV infected persons. |
| Recommendations: |
The Study showed that there is a need to improve health education in schools and consequently improve relevant facilities and resources, be it material or human resources, such as:
a. Upgrading of school libraries;
b. Promoting & enhancing the biology class teacher, as a resource person to educate about AIDS and sex related issues;
c. Utilization of mass media channels for disseminating AIDS information. |
| Future projects: |
1. Information regarding misconceptions on: transmission by insect bite, misconceptions on prevention by isolating HIV/AIDS people;
2. Information that stress positive attitudes towards HIV carriers and /or patients or even colleagues;
3. Information regarding safe sexual relations among young people;
4. Encourage peer education and small group discussion on issues such as HIV/AIDS;
5. Develop educational materials addressing the above issues;
6. Train teachers in schools to actively participate in school health education using appropriate and advanced educational material;
7. Collaborate with the ministries concerned, various schools and organizations to facilitate such tasks. |
| Activity Title 2: |
Out of School Youth |
| Target Group: |
15-24 yearsThe Lebanese AIDS Society has undertaken this project targeting the out-of-school youth in order to access and consequently to intervene in educating about HIV/AIDS-STD’s. |
| Duration: |
1994 |
| Partners: |
Ministry of Public Health, National Aids Control Program, and is supported by the World Health Organization. |
| Objectives: |
1. To assess knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices of the out-of-school youth in relation to HIV/AIDS and STD’s;
2. To develop educational material and education instruments based on needs and forecasted priorities;
3. To raise awareness and improve knowledge among the target audience, youth leaders, official authorities, and community leaders;
4. To create self-awareness and promote positive attitudes and healthy lifestyles among members of the target audience and make them realize that they are personally concerned with HIV/AIDS and STD’s;
5. To enable members of the target audience to understand and perceive the risky situations that could lead to HIV infection and STD’s;
6.To evaluate the impact of the project and its effectiveness. |
| Purpose: |
1. Recognizing the factors influencing the risk of HIV infection in out-of-school youth:
(a)Frequency and type of unprotected sexual exposure;
(b)Inadequate support services;
(c)Non-favorable political, social, economic and cultural factors.
2. Providing the correct interventions and activities:
(a)Giving frank information on how the virus spreads;
(b) quipping them with the protective skills they need;
(c)Ensuring access to condoms, family planning services and to STD proper management;
(d)Reinforcing peer education activities, through NGO’s integrated activities;
(e)Intensifying health education campaigns;
(f) Working on improving the economic situation of these groups. |
| Approach: |
1.Conducting a survey among a sample of out-of-school youth through focus group approach;
2.Producing educational material specifically designed for educating the target audience;
3.Conducting educational sessions to the target audience;
4.Evaluating the impact of the project. |
| Conclusion: |
The project has met the needs of the target audience. It was effective in offering better information and in enhancing better and positive attitudes concerning the adoption of effective preventive measures and less risky behaviors. The findings reflected on the sexual culture of the out-of-school youth and led to the acknowledgment that this group in Lebanon is becoming sexually active at relatively younger ages and consequently exposed more to the risk of HIV infection. Thus, providing the proper health education and reinforcing AIDS prevention activities in Lebanon, especially among the young, stands out as a top priority. |
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