Online Program

290936
Enhancing HIV prevention for youth through effective life skills-based education: A sustainable and scalable model


Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Bao Le Ngoc, MPP, Vietnam, Pathfinder International, Hanoi, Vietnam
Hoa Phan Hang, MSc, Vietnam, Pathfinder International, Hanoi, Vietnam
Ton van der Velden, MD, MPH, Pathfinder International Viet Nam, Hanoi, Vietnam
Hue Le Ngoc, MA, Vietnam, Pathfinder International, Hanoi, Vietnam
Claire Cole, MPH, Technical and Program Strengthening Department, Pathfinder International, Watertown, MA
This presentation will: 1. Describe the design and execution of life skills-based education for youth and adolescents in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and HIV prevention; 2. Discuss strategies to enhance program sustainability and scale-up.

Gaps in SRH/HIV education for Vietnamese youth are a key vulnerability factor. Thus, Pathfinder supported youth-friendly life skills-based SRH/HIV education by hosting extracurricular educational activities for 10,579 in- and out-of-school young people (aged 15-24) in Can Tho City and Thai Nguyen province (2010-2012). Youth were also informed about local youth-friendly SRH clinics. The project's final evaluation (deploying qualitative methods, analysis of pre/post-tests, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions) highlighted improvements, key project outcomes, and sustainability strategies.

Participants demonstrated improved knowledge of SRH/HIV and life skills, and increased healthcare-seeking behavior. Of the 10,579 participants: 95% of in-school and 90.5% of out-of-school youth demonstrated good knowledge of HIV prevention; 92% and 90% had positive attitudes toward people living with HIV; and 98% and 88% had the basic life skills to address their SRH needs, compared with under 50% in the pre-test. Numbers of young people in both provinces seeking services at youth-friendly clinics increased on average by 27%.

Advocacy strategies resulted in the model's integration into local Youth Unions' and schools' programs, benefitting 3,000 more youths. The donor agreed to fund a scaled-up program in another province (2013).

The project demonstrates that life skills-based education can result in improved knowledge, attitudes, healthcare-seeking behavior, and HIV prevention practice among young people. A participatory design/implementation process leads to sustainability.

Learning Areas:

Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Advocacy for health and health education
Program planning

Learning Objectives:
Discuss strategies to enhance program sustainability and scale-up.

Keyword(s): HIV/AIDS

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a Technical Documentation Advisor at Pathfinder International who has supported the Vietnam Country Office in development of this presentation.
Any relevant financial relationships? Yes

Name of Organization Clinical/Research Area Type of relationship
Pathfinder International Technical Services Unit Employment (includes retainer)

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.