Hendra van Zyl, Pieter Visser, Elmarie van WykAfroAIDSinfo ,SA Medical Research Council

HIV peer education course – an HIV knowledge transfer product. ICKE, October 2009

Ø An HIV knowledge transfer productØ BackgroundØ HIV peer education in contextØ Aim of the interventionØ Project design and methodologyØ Results of interventionØ Conclusion

HIV peer education course – an HIV knowledge transfer product. ICKE, October 2009

Conduct of research as a process to

create knowledge is

…

… not directly

linked to changing people’s

lives

the created knowledge should be

transformed into products,

policies and programmes

HIV peer education course – an HIV knowledge transfer product. ICKE, October 2009

Ø AfroAIDSinfo is an HIV/AIDS knowledge transfer project with an online presence and various community outreach interventions

Ø Research1 indicated that the highest incidence of HIV-infection in South Africa occurs in the age group 15 – 24

Ø AfroAIDSinfo became a partner in the Zisukhanyo Schools Project funded by Irish AID to introduce a number of HIV interventions at the participating schools in Mitchell’s Plain. One of these was to develop peer educators.

Ø1Dorrington, R.E., Johnson, J.F.,Bradshaw, D. & Daniel,T. (2006). The demographic impact of HIV/AIDS in South Africa. National and provincial indicators for 2006. Cape Town: Centre for Actuarial Research, South African Medical Research Council and Actuarial Society of South Africa.

HIV peer education course – an HIV knowledge transfer product. ICKE, October 2009

Peer education3

Theory of participative education2

Health belief

model1

1 Rosenstock, I.M. 1966. Why people use health services. Milbank Memorial Fund Quarterly, 44(94-124).2 Wight, A. 1970. Participative Education and the Inevitable Revolution. Center for Research and Education, Estes Park, Colorado, USA. 3 Youth Peer Education Electronic Resourse. 2003. Peer Education Training of Trainers Manual.

HIV peer education course – an HIV knowledge transfer product. ICKE, October 2009

Ø Horizontal knowledge transfer

Ø Vertical knowledge transfer

Ø This course was not designed to develop peer counsellors but peer educators

Educators and parents

Transfer HIV knowledge to

their peers

Educators to learners

• Transfer knowledge and skills to learners to become HIV youth leaders

HIV peer education course – an HIV knowledge transfer product. ICKE, October 2009

Ø Objectives: to address the research question

Ø Indicators: to measure if objectives were met

Ø Research instruments: a pre-questionnaire that was completed by participants before the start of the course and a post-questionnaire completed after the course

Ø Course content:

Transfer and build HIV

knowledge

Develop skills to address sensitive

issues

Understand their role as

peer educators

HIV peer education course – an HIV knowledge transfer product. ICKE, October 2009

Ø 36 participants: 31 were female; 5 were maleØ Educators: 32; and Parents: 4

Table 1: Participants ranking their knowledge and skills Area Before AfterHIV knowledge 69% 92%

Confidence to teach HIV classes 51% 86%

Knowledge and ability to teach sex education 42% 86%

A statistical significant improvement (p<0.05) was evident in all three areas

HIV peer education course – an HIV knowledge transfer product. ICKE, October 2009

Difference Gender/sex Role play HIV+ person Teach factual info Motivational

techniques Training useful

Before 31% 37% 64% 31% 19% 72%After 83% 91% 86% 83% 89% 97%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Before After

Figure 1: Confidence to deal with various topics during the course

HIV peer education course – an HIV knowledge transfer product. ICKE, October 2009

Indi-cator

Achiev-ed What the indicators measured

25% 23% HIV knowledge increase –69% before the course to 92% on completion of the course

25% 35% Skills to transfer HIV knowledge horizontally to peers and vertically to learners –51% before the course to 86% after the course

25% 44% Skills to transfer sensitive knowledge –42% before the course and 86%

50% 100% 60% pass mark for assignments achieved by 50% participants to demonstrate their understanding of peer education

Table 1: Measuring objectives

HIV peer education course – an HIV knowledge transfer product. ICKE, October 2009

Primary:Educators and parents – confidence, knowledge and skills to act as peer educators / Internationally certified

School and community:They will act as PE at HIV events /

Skills and knowledge will be used in classrooms and community projects

Social: Parents can confidently participate in CBO interventions as Peer educator

Trainers

HIV peer education course – an HIV knowledge transfer product. ICKE, October 2009

Ø Irrespective of culture, it seemed that South African educators and parents struggled with the same challenges and frustrations - how to transfer HIV knowledge - this was also the reason why participants derived huge benefits from the course as predicted by the health belief model.

Ø The course carries international accreditation and it is implemented as an effective HIV knowledge product.

Ø This knowledge transfer product is presented as good practice

HIV peer education course – an HIV knowledge transfer product. ICKE, October 2009

Ø ‘Learning is a lifelong process. Given the knowledge and skills I have learnt, I feel more empowered. I have learnt a number of interesting games and methods here. The learners and educators will enjoy doing it.’

Ø ‘It was straightforward. The explanations were clear and the activities helped me implement what the learners must do, such as role play.’

Ø ‘The course was too short. It should have been at least a week.’

Ø SA Medical Research Council

Ø Protea Schools Development Project

Ø Irish AID

Ø Family Health International