Abstract
BackgroundWorldwide, a large proportion of all new HIV infections occur in people under the age of 25. HIV and AIDS remain the leading cause of deaths among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa and second leading cause of death globally. Preventing new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths are at the heart of South Africa’s National Strategic Plan on HIV and AIDS, STIs and TB 2017-2022.AimsExplore and describe the roles of the local role players in the implementation of the school-based HIV and AIDS prevention programmes in local high school settings.SettingsThe study was conducted in the Bushbuckridge local municipal area in Mpumalanga Province.MethodsA qualitative, explorative, descriptive design and contextual study was used. Individual interviews and focus group interviews were conducted with the purposively selected participants from the clinic, health centre, high schools and community members. Data was analysed using Tesch’s method of data analysis.ResultsAlthough all the local role players were found to have important roles to play in the implementation of the school-based HIV and AIDS prevention programme, gaps exist in the rendering of youth friendly services (YFS); accessible clinic times; HIV and AIDS education; life skills education; Life Orientation (LO) and health education; information sessions; counselling; school health programmes; campaigns as well as collaborative working strategy.ConclusionSuccessful development and collaborative implementation of the school-based HIV and AIDS prevention programme can result in significant changes in knowledge and attitudes that affect sexual behaviour of young people, leading to significant decrease in HIV infection among young people.
Highlights
According to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS 2016) and World Health Organization (WHO 2016, 2017), adolescents and youths have the highest incidences of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
Human immunodeficiency virus and AIDS health services have emerged as the foremost role for role players, with three subthemes, namely, youth-friendly clinic (YFC), clinic visits, and screening and health education
It was further revealed that HIV and AIDS health services were provided in the form of visits to YFCs
Summary
According to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS 2016) and World Health Organization (WHO 2016, 2017), adolescents and youths have the highest incidences of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In 2016, it was estimated that 36.7 million people were living with HIV and AIDS worldwide, of whom 1.8 million were children. In 2016, there were approximately 1.8 million new HIV infections, which was a decline from the 2.1 million new infections reported in 2015 (UNAIDS 2017). In spite of this decline, much more needs to be performed to improve the knowledge of HIV as well as HIV testing amongst adolescents and the youth. Various HIV and AIDS prevention programmes have proven to effectively reduce the infection worldwide. Such prevention programmes have not reduced the infection rate in South Africa, especially amongst the youth. Preventing new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths are at the heart of South Africa’s National Strategic Plan on HIV and AIDS, STIs and TB 2017-2022
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