Attaining health and literacy: Local and global challenges for women and youth

Women and youth continue to face multiple challenges to improving their health and quality of life in resource poor countries as well as in resourced countries. This panel will describe projects and studies which address these challenges in Africa an the U.S. In Kigali, Rwanda, young mothers at an HIV clinic attend support groups to develop strategies to reduce stigma related to HIV, rape, and poor education. A second panelist will share results from a Rwandan study of children with and affected by HIV on the prevalence of depression, and other psychological problems. A literacy program which takes advantage of newer technologies (e-readers, smart phones, etc.) will be discussed as another strategy to improve the health and quality of life of children and their parents in Africa. A final panelist will discuss results from a study of adolescent daughters of women with HIV in Chicago in order to better understand and provide needed family services.