Youth RISE Up For HIV Prevention! Kyla Zanardi Youth RISE MSc Candidate Queen s University

Transcription

1 Youth RISE Up For HIV Prevention! Kyla Zanardi Youth RISE MSc Candidate Queen s University

2 Young People and Harm Reduction Lack of comprehensive harm reduction training and services targeted for young people globally Estimated that of 6,000 new HIV infections each day among young people age15-24, more than 3,000 are related to injecting drug use (Dolan & Niven) Romania- average age for IDU initiation 16 years of age (UNICEF) In Manipur, India, the proportion of young drug injectors (median age 25) infected with HIV zoomed from virtually zero in 1989 to 56 per cent within six months and to between 60 per cent and 75 per cent by 2003 (UNODC)

3 Aim of the Project To provide free access to training and advocacy resources for young people on HIV/AIDS prevention, substance use and young people

4 Guiding Principles Youth Engagement Approach - Youth-led project design, implementation and dissemination - Adult partnerships through Expert Group Culturally and Context Specific - Trainings tailored to local issues and partnered NGO experiences - commitment to working with NGOs/local service providers who are harm reduction based - Existing relationship/connection with Youth RISE Flexible and Creative - Importance of creative, engaging and interactive trainings and facilitation

5 bjectives for Phase 1 Development of a training guide which includes discussions on youth best practices for harm reduction, HIV prevention, sexual health and substance use information Host two youth-led peer education trainings in each project country on youth IDU, HIV Prevention and Sexual Health Providing Youth RISE members and country participants with hands on project development and implementation experience

6 Pilot Projects Romania Each training took place over a two day period International Working Group presence and strong link with local NGO ARAS (Romanian Association Against AIDS) First Training mostly young injecting drug users Second Training Young People Living with HIV Ages varied between years of age

7 Pilot Project India One peer educator training Consisted of young injecting drug users International Working Group presence and link to the Manipur Drug Users League Ages varied between years old Training at the Manipur Network of Positive People

8 Recruitment Strategy Expert Group Expert group was convened to provide guidance and support around the development of the guide materials and peer education trainings Experiences of EG members included young current/former IDUs, experts in the field of harm reduction and sexual health service provision, partnered NGO workers and country coordinator Participants In Manipur, participants were recruited through an open newspaper call, formal call to local youth NGOs, word of mouth in the Manipur Drug Users League Training 1 n= 20 In Romania, participants were recruited through their existing involvement in ARAS. Similarly, word of mouth within the local partnered NGO attracted participants. Training 1 n=24(young IDU), training 2 n=13 (most people living with HIV)

9 Guide Development and Peer Trainings Peer trainings were facilitated by country coordinators and youth educators Guide includes sections on Sexual Health Principles of Harm Reduction HIV Prevention Stigma and Discrimination Safe Injecting

10 Highlights All of the participants in first training had received an HIV and Hep C test through ARAS (Romania) prior to attending. Participants showed interest and were motivated to get retested after training According to observation of the workers in the drop-in centers, the IDUs who participated at the training asked for more materials than they used to need (syringes, distilled water, alcohol preps, condoms, fliers) Service providers noted that there was a growing interest and accessing needed materials to other IDUs who are not accessing any harm reduction services

11 Challenges Developing advocacy materials and guide online Length of Training too long Current application of guide in different non-idu context Engaging cross-culturally with stakeholders in the design of the guide.

12 Steps Forward Participants feedback suggested; - Trainings could be expanded upon to be more interactive, have more information on overdose and drugs, to have to opportunity/time to talk more between us and share their experiences. - The use of additional multimedia like films and audio clips on overdose and drug treatment was highly encouraged by participants

13 Next Phase Facilitation of two new trainings in Espolea in Mexico and the Kingston Youth Space in Canada over next 6 months Continue to pilot more trainings and develop new content for the guide Continue to develop more comprehensive evaluation process Final guide to be launched on World AIDS Day 2010

14 References Dolan KA, Niven H (2005). A review of HIV prevention among young injecting drug users: a guide for researchers. Harm Reduction Journal, 2:5.

15 Thank you! Special Thanks to Sara MTV Staying Alive Foundation And Vikram Laishman, Veronica Broasca, Raluca, Luciano Colonna, Claudia Ahumada, Kunle Odeyemi, Newton Manoharmayum, Cristina Fierbinteanu, Oana Ana-Maria Enache and Roshan Ningthoujam. Caitlin Padgett us at info@youthrise.org