Abstract

GONZALEZ VALCARCEL, Bertha; BOLANOS GUTIERREZ, Maria Regla  and  PUPO AVILA, Noria Liset. Educational strategies for the prevention of sexually-transmitted diseases in young people. Rev Cubana Salud Pública [online]. 2010, vol.36, n.4, pp. 295-300. ISSN 1561-3127.

Introduction The HIV/AIDS epidemic in Cuba shows a slow sustained rise, with higher incidence in 15-29 years-old young people in the last five years. Objective To identify the strategies developed in Cuba for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases in the young people. Methods Documentary review and in-depth interviews made to those who implement the national programs. Results The programs for young people were aimed at developing knowledge and healthy sexual behaviors. The most used strategies were education, training, counseling and campaigns; aid means were prepared such as manuals, multimedia, games and accessories. Training was systematic, however, advisers and facilitators, once trained, not always stayed in their posts, but the situation was not the same in peer educators and facilitators at schools. The surveyed teenagers exhibited good level of knowledge on ways of transmission and of reducing HIV risk. However, these pieces of knowledge did not influence the use of condom regularly. Conclusions The Cuban young people benefit from the National Program of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control with educational orientation and intersectoral involvement, leading to several educational strategies. It was confirmed that despite their good level of knowledge on HIV/AIDS, the young people do not use condom on a regular basis. It is suggested that reflection and analysis techniques be emphasized in the training and education activities, taking into account that the young people are sensitive to the opinions of their peers and this may have an effect on their behaviors.

Keywords : Educational strategies; sexually transmitted infections; HIV/AIDS; young people.

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