Khan I, Jafar A; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 2002 Jul 7-12; 14: abstract no. MoPeD3589.
Bharosa, Lucknow, India
ISSUE: Lucknow has a significant number of male youth 21 & under, unmarried. Many of these males are sexually active with other males & sometimes females too. Often this male-to-male sex occurs due to the traditional, orthodox framework of the society, which gives very little space for male & female interaction. Many of these males belong to the working class & of low income groups, vulnerable & stigmatised because of their economic class, caste & age. They have no access to sexual health education, knowledge on safer sex, condoms or STI treatment. DESCRIPTION: Bharosa has implemented a sexual health youth programme that provides a safe social space to discuss personal issues of sexual identities, sexual behaviours, sexual orientation, sexualities, safer sex practices & access to psychosexual counselling, condoms & non-stigmatising STI treatment. Recruitment has been through word of mouth, where the age of participants in programme is from 16 - 21. Skill building programmes have empowered the youth to manage & develop their own services to their peers which include socializing meetings providing a variety of indoor & outdoor games, such as cricket, videogames, and picnics and so on. It has been observed that cricket has been one of the means to attract the youths and during breaks, discussions on sexuality, sexual practices can be initiated leading to imparting of proper sex education. The youth group members act as peer educators among their friends & peers in a variety of settings, sharing information about sexual practices, safer sex, STI/HIV/AIDS & condoms. They have access to psychosexual counselling to discuss issues of masturbation, wet dreams are discussed. LESSONS LEARNT: Since November 1998 when the programme was initiated 2162 youth have participated, 635 counselled, 498 accessed to STI treatment, 1956 condoms have been used. RECOMMENDATIONS: More youth programmes to be developed for men 21 and under to impart sex education.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Adolescent
- Behavior
- Condoms
- Female
- HIV Infections
- Health Education
- Health Planning Guidelines
- Humans
- India
- Male
- Peer Group
- Safe Sex
- Sex Education
- Sexual Behavior
- Sexuality
- Sports
- education
Other ID:
UI: 102249672
From Meeting Abstracts