Formative Work and Community Engagement Approaches for Implementing an HIV Intervention in Botswana Schools

• Published in: American journal of public health (1971) Vol. 106; no. 8; pp. 1439 - 1441
• Main Authors: Miller, Kim S, Cham, Haddi J, Taylor, Eboni M, Berrier, Faith L, Duffy, Meghan, Vig, Jessica, Chipazi, Lily, Chakalisa, Chawada, Sidibe, Sekou, Swart, Kenau, Tau, Nontobeko Sylvia, Clark, Leslie F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Public Health Association 01.08.2016
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Adolescent; Adolescent Health; AIDS; AJPH Practice; Botswana; Child; Community Participation - methods; Female; Global Health; Herpes viruses; Herpesvirus 2, Human - isolation & purification; HIV; HIV Infections - prevention & control; HIV/AIDS; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Inservice Training - organization & administration; Male; Program Evaluation; Public health; Public Health Practice; Risk-Taking; School Health; Secondary schools; Sex Education - organization & administration; Sexual Behavior; Teenagers
• ISSN: 0090-0036; 1541-0048
• DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2016.303225

Providing adolescents with evidence-based sexual risk reduction interventions is critical to addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa. Project AIM (Adult Identity Mentoring) is an innovative, evidence-based, youth development intervention that is being evaluated for the first time in Botswana through a 3-year (2015-2017), 50-school cluster randomized controlled trial, including testing for herpes simplex virus type 2 as a sexual activity biomarker. Conducting a trial of this magnitude requires the support and collaboration of government and community stakeholders. All school staff, including teachers, must be well informed about the study; dedicated staff placed at each school can help to improve school and community familiarity with the study, improve the information flow, and relieve some of the burden study activities places on schools.