Peer education
Evidence from peer education programmes indicates that giving young people access to accurate information, as well as the opportunity to discuss sexual and reproductive health issues, can bring about changes in behaviour which lead to risk reduction. Evaluations of various programmes show improvements in student attitudes and knowledge about abstinence and condom use, as well as behavioural changes including increased contraceptive use and decreased sexual activity.
However, evidence from the US suggests that peer educators had no greater influence on young people than adult educators. Wider evidence also indicates that peer education programmes have not been cost effective or sustainable, and that their main impact has been on the peer educators themselves.
However, evidence from the US suggests that peer educators had no greater influence on young people than adult educators. Wider evidence also indicates that peer education programmes have not been cost effective or sustainable, and that their main impact has been on the peer educators themselves.
Recommended readings
- The role of education in promoting young people’s sexual and reproductive health
- ( I. Warwick; P. Aggleton / Centre for Sexual Health Research, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Southampton , 2002)
- Recommended reading
- This document outlines discussions from the Expert meeting for the Safe Passages to Adulthood programme, where researchers, practitioners and policy makers explored the potential of education to prote...
- Intervention strategies that work for youth: summary of the FOCUS on young adults
- ( B. Finger; M. Lapetina; M. Pribila / YouthNet, Family Health International , 2002)
- What kinds of programs work in their attempts to promote youth reproductive health and HIV prevention? What factors make some programs successful and others less so? This document reports on programs ...
- Timetable for change: effective HIV education in Asian schools
- ( Gary Smith;Susan Kippax;Peter Aggleton;Paul Tyrer / id21 Development Research Reporting Service , 2002)
- How is HIV-related education delivered in schools in the Asia-Pacific region? Where and at what age does the curriculum address HIV/AIDS? Research in 11 countries shows an emphasis on biological rathe...
- Young people and HIV/AIDS: responding to the new Asian crisis
- ( E. Ireland; D. Webb / Save the Children Fund , 2001)
- This report provides examples of a number of Save the Children projects in Asian countries where the focus has been on children affected by HIV/AIDS and/or prevention efforts focused on children and ...
- Teaching AIDS: student teachers learn about HIV in Zimbabwe
- ( Tisa Chifunyise;Heather Benoy;Betty Mukiibi / id21 Development Research Reporting Service , 2002)
- Teachers are in an excellent position to pass information about HIV on to their pupils. In 1994, the Zimbabwean Ministry of Higher Education and Technology introduced a nationwide programme to train t...
- Friends in deed – preventing HIV through peer education in South African schools
- ( Catherine Campbell;Catherine MacPhail / id21 Development Research Reporting Service , 2002)
- HIV is rampant among young people in South Africa, despite sound knowledge about sexual health risks. Levels of perceived vulnerability among this group are low and unprotected sex is common. Research...
- Clearing up confusion: peer-led AIDS education in Zambia
- ( Sohail Agha / id21 Development Research Reporting Service , 2002)
- Do African adolescents know enough about AIDS to protect themselves against infection? What is the best way to educate them about the risks of HIV? A report from Population Services International eval...
