In-school family life and HIV/AIDS education in Nigeria

Paulina K Makinwa-Adebusoye, Nigeria Institute of Social and Economic Research

Young people in Nigeria have the highest rate of HIV infection, 5.6%, higher than the national rate of 4.4%, and 60% of new HIV infections are among youth aged 15-25. In recognition of these grim statistics and mindful of the window of opportunity for future change which the adolescent period provides, the Lagos State Ministry of Education in partnership with an NGO,Action Health Incorporated, commenced the Family Life and HIV Education in Junior Secondary Schools in 2003. Longitudinal quantitative evaluation of the in-school programme (2003 -2007) reveals that students who participated in the family life education over time were more knowledgeable about sexuality and reproductive health issues than same-age non-participants. The former were also significantly less likely to be sexually active than the latter. Gender-equitable attitudes also appear positively impacted by exposure to the FLHE curriculum. Qualitative evaluation (2007 and 2008) corroborates changes in attitude of students who received the FLHE.