Rana Gulzar RG; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand).
Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16; 15: abstract no. MoPeD3703.
AMAL Human Development Network, Islamabad, Pakistan
Introduction: As poverty continues to grip Pakistan, the number of urban street children grows and has now reached alarming proportions - demanding far greater action than presently offered. Objectives: To reduce drug use on the streets in particular inject able drug use andprevent the transmission of STDs/HIV/AIDS among vulnerable youth. Methodology: Baseline study and Situation assessment of HIV and STDs among street childrenof Quetta, Pakistan January to April 2003. Activities & Conclusion: Launching a Peer Education program, which includes awareness of self and body protection focusing on child sexual abuse and STDs/HIV/AIDS, life skills, gender and human rights/children rights awareness, preventive health measure, and care at work. Opening care and counseling center for these working and street children and handling these centers over to local communities. During awareness sessions, Youth are informed about the nutrition, physical and psychological changes, masturbation, menstrual cycle, family planning andSTDs/HIV/AIDS. It was determined relationships among AIDS related knowledge, beliefs and sexual behavior of young adults and found that reason for unsafe sex included, misconception about disease etiology, conflicting cultural values, risk denial partner pressures, trust and partner significance, accusation of promiscuity, lack of community endorsement of protective measures, and barrier to condom access. According to Baseline study the male children are exposed to the knowledge of safe sex through peers, Hakims and blue films. This knowledge is not authentic has many misconceptions. Working children found sexual information through older children and their Ustad (teachers). Recommendations on the Findings: It was found that highly vulnerable to STIs/HIV/AIDS among adolescents are the working children, as they lack protective measures during any sexual abuse attempt are unaware of safe sexual practices. Training of adolescent asPeer educators is recommended.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Behavior
- Child
- Condoms
- Counseling
- Demography
- Evaluation Studies
- Female
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Homeless Youth
- Human Rights
- Humans
- Male
- Pakistan
- Residence Characteristics
- Sexual Behavior
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- education
- organization & administration
Other ID:
UI: 102279995
From Meeting Abstracts