July 2003

Involving Youth in the Care and Support of People Affected by HIV and AIDS

Study Description

This quasi-experimental intervention study sought to determine which care and support needs of PLHA and their families can be met by trained youth and to establish whether youth engaged in formalized care and support activities would increase their adoption of protective behaviors or reduce the level of stigma faced by members of AIDS-affected households.

The youth who participated in the study belonged to school and community anti-AIDS clubs. All schools in Zambia, from primary through secondary school, are required to form anti-AIDS clubs to give students the opportunity for involvement in HIV prevention education and related activities. Community anti-AIDS clubs represent a more diverse group of youth and address a broader range of social needs, including income generation. Club members act as role models and peer educators within their school or community. Clubs are led by patrons and matrons, who may be school teachers, clinic officers, or community leaders. Both school and community clubs conduct recreational and HIV/AIDS activities, including football and netball games, drama, “red ribbon” HIV awareness campaigns, and distribution of information and condoms.

The study was conducted in semi-urban and rural communities in two provinces of northern Zambia located up to 1,000 km from Lusaka. Thirty clubs in Mansa and Nchelenge districts in Luapula Province served as intervention sites; an equal number in Mporokoso and Kasama districts in Northern Province served as comparison sites.

Members, patrons, and matrons from all 60 clubs, which include groups based within schools and communities, received training in HIV/AIDS prevention and club management. In addition, clubs in the intervention area received training, materials, and ongoing support for caring for PLHA and OVC.

	Print this page
@	E-mail this page

This page updated
19 Oct 2007