Abstract

ESTRADA M, John Harold. Education oriented to the youth as a tool in the prevention of AIDS. Rev. Fac. Nac. Salud Pública [online]. 2007, vol.25, n.1, pp.61-70. ISSN 0120-386X.

A large number of young people of ages 15-24 in Latin America are living with HIV/AIDS after being infected through non protected sexual practices. Young people is particularly vulnerable to get infected with HIV/AIDS and they even should take care of their infected parents or relatives. Most of them become vulnerable due to their sexual behavior, use of drugs, lack of information about HIV and weak access to health services or by economic and social reasons. Education for the prevention of HIV/AIDS implies the offering of opportunities for all to learn about how to acquire and develop knowledge, competence, values and attitudes that can limit the transmission and the impact of the pandemia, including access to support and to psychological assistance, as well as education concerning the treatment. Educational programs for sexual and reproductive health help to restraint the beginning of active sexual life and protect the sexually active young people against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI) as well as pregnancy, but mainly if all of these programs are of good quality. Such an education delivers the knowledge and promotes the required behavior to struggle against the epidemic. It is also vital to improve contextual factors related to the epidemic itself, thus facilitating the access to an education with quality for all. Furthermore, it also transforms unequal conditions among sexes, appraising the diversity and the context by means of promoting values like equality, democracy and respect for human rights. In those contexts where the rhythm of the infection has decreased, education has been the responsible force

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