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Preventing HIV with young people: a case study from Zambia
1International HIV/AIDS Alliance, Brighton, UK.
Reproductive Health Matters
|November 15, 2006
Summary
The US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) promotes abstinence-only education in Zambia, leading to inaccurate condom messages and reduced access. Young people with accurate information reject these messages and demand condoms, highlighting the need for comprehensive HIV prevention.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- HIV/AIDS Prevention
- International Development
Background:
- The US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) funds Abstinence, Behaviour Change, Youth (ABY) programs in high HIV prevalence countries.
- These programs aim to persuade young people to abstain from sex until marriage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the implementation of PEPFAR's ABY strategy in Zambia.
- To examine community responses to the abstinence-only approach.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of published information.
- Observations and discussions in Zambia's Eastern Province (2005-2006).
Main Results:
- Many organizations accepted PEPFAR funding and promoted abstinence-only messages.
- Negative messages about condoms (e.g., "condoms have holes") replaced accurate information and promotion.
- Service providers withheld condoms from young people.
- Young people with prior comprehensive sexuality education rejected abstinence-only messages and demanded condoms.
Conclusions:
- Abstinence-only strategies can lead to the spread of inaccurate information about condoms.
- Withholding condoms from young people stigmatizes both individuals and condom use, and hinders contraceptive promotion.
- Comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention requires ensuring availability of all prevention options, accurate information, and condoms for all.
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