School Health Education to Prevent AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) : Teachers' Guide (UNESCO - WHO, 1994, 117 p.): Unit 1. Basic knowledge on HIV/AIDS/STD: 3 HIV/AIDS/STD - What do they mean?

School Health Education to Prevent AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) : Teachers' Guide (UNESCO - WHO, 1994, 117 p.)

Unit 1. Basic knowledge on HIV/AIDS/STD

		(introduction...)
		1 HIV/AIDS/STD basic questions and answers - What is HIV/AIDS/STD?
		2 Looking into AIDS - Fun test on HIV/AIDS/STD
		3 HIV/AIDS/STD - What do they mean? - Definitions of HIV/AIDS/STD
		4 How a person gets HIV - Information on transmission
		5 You can’t get AIDS by... - Ways HIV is not transmitted
		6 What do you believe? - Short test on transmission
		7 What would you do? - Case studies on transmission
		8 What is your risk? - Evaluating risk behaviours
		9 Are you at risk (part 1)
		Are you at risk (part 2)
		Are you at risk (part 3) - Evaluating risk behaviours and accumulated risks
		10 Protect yourself against AIDS - Information sheet on protection
		11 Dear Doctor Sue - Letters on protection
		12 Which is safer? - Evaluating ways of protection
		13 What happens with HIV infection? - Information on signs and symptoms
		14 How do you know if you have HIV/AIDS? - Case studies on signs and symptoms
		15 Testing for HIV - Basic information on testing
		16 Test: What you know about testing - Short test on testing for HIV
		17 AIDS help - Who? Where? - Where help can be found
		18 You be the doctor - Case studies on drug use
		19 Are you a responsible person? - Behavioural intent questions on personal responsibility

3 HIV/AIDS/STD - What do they mean? - Definitions of HIV/AIDS/STD

Purpose

Students should be familiar with basic terms and understand the seriousness of these diseases in order to be prepared for the rest of the course.

What the teacher does

1. Decide how to teach this activity:

a) Each student receives a copy of the activity and follows the directions provided.
b) The teacher reads the story (A) and puts the definitions (B) on the blackboard. Students select the correct definitions from B and put them in the proper spot in C. The unfinished sentences are also put on the blackboard for students to complete.

2. Give the correct answers for each definition:

AIDS = Illnesses that occur...
HIV = A virus that...
STD = Diseases that are...
Gonorrhoea = A type of STD...

3. Provide additional information after each definition as below.

· AIDS is serious because:

- there is no vaccine;
- there is no cure;
- anyone can get it (even young people);
- it is almost certain that every one who has AIDS, dies;
- often they are young people who would otherwise have many years to live.

· After the definition for HIV, tell the students:

- most people who have HIV have no signs of it;
- unlike many other diseases, HIV does not get to us through air, water or food
- you get it by sexual contact or sharing of unsterilized needles and syringes;
- HIV cannot live outside the body for very long;
- it is not carried by animals or insects.

· STD are serious because:

- they can damage the reproductive organs;
- they can cause infertility (inability to have children);
- they can cause cancer, heart and brain damage, and possibly death.

· After the definition for STD, tell the students:

- HIV/AIDS is an STD and so is gonorrhoea (give the local/slang name of gonorrhoea).
- you should contact the health centre if you have pain in the genitals, or when urinating, if you have ulcers in the genital area or an unusual discharge from the vagina or penis.
- most STD can be cured.

4. Ask the students for their answers to the unfinished sentences.

You might finish the class by asking them to respond to, “I learned from the class today that...”

Be sure to give positive feedback to each appropriate answer that is volunteered by the students.

5. Have a cardboard box with “Dear teacher” on it where students can put their questions. Do not have them sign their questions. Read them and find answers for the next class.

Additional information

The teacher may have to find answers to the students’ questions. This should be done after class. You may need to find additional sources to answer all of the questions, like the professionals at the health centre or hospital. Do not be afraid to admit you could not find an answer to very difficult questions. Do not guess at answers - be sure the answer is correct.