Establishment of social club for adolescents living in urban slums: a potential tool to impart HIV/AIDS education
Deshpande, K.; Shivaswamy, M.S.; Diwan, V.; De Costa, A.; Bhattacharya, A.; Mahadik, V.K.
Journal of the Indian Medical Association 111(5): 320-323
2013
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5847 PMID: 24765690 Document Number: 571980
An interventional study was carried out under a Government of Madhya Pradesh, India supported project with aims to describe establishment of a social club (a youth club), incorporating strategy of life-skill-based education and its potential as a tool for creating HIV/AIDS awareness among adolescents of age 15-19 years living in slums of Ujjain city. The social club activities included AIDS education by combined methods, vocational training and recreational activities for the adolescents. Establishment of social club was feasible with available local resources. Social club activities were need based, thus received good response from adolescents (94% had attendance above 75% in AIDS awareness sessions). Knowledge and attitude improved and misconceptions reduced significantly by AIDS education. Majority (86%) of the participants contributed as AIDS messengers in the community. The social clubs seem to have potential to improve HIV/AIDS awareness and empower adolescents to adopt healthy lifestyle through combination of teen friendly activities and atmosphere.