The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #71540

Nancy Muturi, PhD¹, Sanjana Ajey Bhardwaj, MD, MPH², Hope Ramsay, MPH², Marjan DeBruin¹, and Brendan Bain, DM, MPH². (1) Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication, University of West Indies, Mona campus, Jamaica, Kingston 7, Kingston, 7, Jamaica, (876) 977-1397, nancy.muturi@uwimona.edu.jm, (2) Department of Community Health and Psychiatry, University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Gibraltar Camp Road, Kingston, 7, Jamaica

The Caribbean region is today the world’s second most affected region by the HIV / AIDS epidemic. It has been well recognized that a multi sectoral approach is needed to effectively combat this epidemic. Education can be used purposefully as a channel for prevention and care and support issues surrounding HIV infection. There must be a wholehearted effort to mainstream HIV / AIDS, sexual and reproductive health, and life skills education into the curriculum of every learning institution. The objective being to empower participants to live sexually responsible and healthy lives. This paper describes the curriculum planning process undertaken by a tertiary level institution across campuses, across disciplines and at all levels of education as part of the comprehensive response to the HIV / AIDS crisis. The barriers and facilitators to this process are identified. It is also important for the subject area to be professionalised. A core group of educators and teachers with the necessary skills to deal with sensitive issues needs to be created. As part of the curriculum development process, a macro and micro curriculum matrix was designed. This is a useful tool which can be used to fully integrate HIV / AIDS, sexual and reproductive health and life skills education across the disciplines and at undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate courses. This approach has the potential to bridge the boundary between the insides of an institution and the outside world, the community at large.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the session, the participants will be able to:
• Understand the integration of an education based model into the framework of HIV prevention.
• Identify the process of curriculum development across disciplines in an educational setting
• Observe a macro and micro curriculum matrix addressing all aspects of HIV /AIDS

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Behavior Modification

Related Web page: www.uwimona.edu.jm/uwiharp

Awards: Excellence in Abstract Submission among New Investigators--Award Winner - Honorable Mention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: University of West Indies
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employment