In order to develop better educational interventions to prevent HIV infection, greater emphasis needs to be given to the way in which young people understand their social and physical worlds, and to the social and cultural processes that help them make sense of sexual desires, feelings and interests.
Sexual activity is, to a large extent , socially constructed, in addition to having its biological components, and that all societies mould basic sexual urges for their own social moulding of sexuality can be seen in the marked differences between countries in their legal consent.
Educating young people about HIV, and teaching them skills in negotiation, conflict resolution, critical thinking, decision making and communication, improves their self-confidence and ability to make informed choices, such as postponing sex until they are mature enough to protect themselves from HIV, other STIs and unwanted pregnancies. No strategy to reduce this scourge can be effective unless the rights of children and young people to make safe choices about their health and well-being.
The important thing here is to pay special attention to vulnerable young people and those at especially high risk. If HIV/AIDS prevention and care programmes are to be effective, young people must be involved in their design and implementation.
Am glad in our community here in Kenya, the government, religious leaders and other affiliated groups are doing everything to educate and minimize the spread of the virus. Religious leaders are delivering messages about HIV/AIDS to their communities. A guide was designed to improve communication between parents and children, and 5,000 copies were distributed through churches.
Voluntary and confidential HIV counselling and testing-VCTs have increased, studies have shown that young people have a strong interest in knowing their HIV status. More than 75% of young people surveyed in Kenya, and about 90% in Uganda, indicated that they would like to be tested while still healthy.
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