Education for survival: better health and HIV/AIDS education for schools in Africa and Asia

Since the late 1980s, interest has grown in the development of health education in schools. This interest has been spurred on by the AIDS pandemic. Health education, which focuses on trying to influence sexual behaviour and attitudes, has been seen as a key strategy in arresting the spread of the disease. To what extent, however, is health education (including HIV/AIDS prevention education) currently included in the curriculum of schools in Africa and Asia? And what is its relevance to children's needs, teaching methods and teacher preparation? Researchers at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine report on a study that sets out to answer these questions and to suggest ways of improving health and HIV/AIDS education in schools.