The Spreading of HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa: Ivorian Perspectives on Factors That Explain the Rise in HIV Prevalence Rate in the Ivory Coast

• In Event: 29.091 - Poster Session 4
  In Poster Session: 29.091-10 - Issues in Caribbean and African Education

Abstract

The spread of HIV in Ivory Coast is examined to evaluate Ivorian perspectives’ on which factors explicate the soaring of HIV. This study reports the findings of an in-depth qualitative study with 39 teachers, 63 sixth grade students, eight school administrators, and 20 community elders. The study found that factors such as lack of condom distribution in school, high rates of sexual partner change, prostitution, enactment of abstinence education in the school-based curriculum, and lack of classrooms supplies (e.g. projections, electricity) and shortage of teaching materials (e.g. HIV movies and books), and the inadequate time devoted to HIV teaching have led to an HIV/AIDS education that is often insufficient to change either misconceptions about HIV/AIDS or risky practices.

Author

• Gustave F Ado, Teachers College, Columbia University