An evaluation of HIV and AIDS education in secondary schools in Kenya

Type Journal Article - International journal of Disaster Management and Humanitarian
Title An evaluation of HIV and AIDS education in secondary schools in Kenya
Author(s)
Volume 4
Issue 4
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2012
URL http://admcrk.com/volume_4_issue_1/paper_5.pdf
Abstract
This article reports on a study whose purpose was to assess the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS education programme in Kenya. More specifically, the study sought to establish the extent to which HIV/AIDS education, knowledge dissemination forums, methods and aids were used; and to identify the factors that influenced the effectiveness of the HIV/AIDS education programme. The findings of this study established that despite evidence that a considerable number of youth in secondary schools were sexually active, topics that covered non-sexual health issues were better covered as compared to those that involved sexual health issues like contraception and condom use. Interactive teaching methods were not frequently employed especially during classroom lessons. Additionally, forums that had the potential to actively involve the youth in this programme that greatly needed their acceptance and active participation to enhance its success like clubs and societies were not maximally utilized. Cultural underpinnings, an overloaded curriculum, the mean score syndrome which led to teachers giving more attention to examinable non-integrated subjects which HIV/AIDS education was not, were some of the factors that influenced the effectiveness of the programme. The results of this study pointed out the need to step up efforts in ensuring that adequate and consistent HIV/AIDS education is disseminated to the students. This could be done by enhancing coordination and supervision of HIV/AIDS prevention programmes in schools. It is also imperative that the major stakeholder in this programme – the students who are the recipients and the teachers, who are the disseminators, be actively involved in the designing and implementation of the programme

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