Life Skills Education Toolkit

24 • PART FOUR : BACKGROUND READING

• The critical role of HIV counseling and
  testing as a risk-reduction strategy;


• The developments of skills for obtaining
  and correctly and consistently using
  condoms, including skills for vulnerable
  persons; and


• The knowledge that condoms do not
  protect against all STIs.

Two overarching considerations in

implementing the ABC Approach

• Individual programs must be appropriately
  designed to meet the needs of the target
  audience.


• Information on the correct and consistent
  use of condoms must be coupled with:
  
  
  • Information on abstinence as the only
    100% effective method of eliminating
    the risk of HIV infection; and
  
  
  • Importance of HIV counseling and
    testing, partner reduction and mutual
    faithfulness as methods of risk
    reduction.
  
  
  
  

Age appropriate ABC information for youth

Young people are the most important asset to any

community or nation. Protecting them from

contracting HIV is unquestionably one of the most

important missions of the Emergency Plan. Young

people who have had their sexual debut must be

encouraged to practice abstinence until they have

established a lifetime monogamous relationship.

For those youth who have initiated sexual activity,

returning to abstinence (secondary abstinence)

must be a primary message of prevention

programs. Implementing partners must take great

care not to give conflicting message with regard to

abstinence by confusing abstinence messages with

condom marketing campaigns that appear to

encourage sexual activity or appear to present

abstinence and condom use as equally viable,

alternative choices.

• For 10-to-14-year-olds, promotion of only
  AB including:
  
  
  • Dignity and self-worth;
  
  
  • The importance of abstinence in
    reducing the transmission of HIV;
  
  
  • The importance of delaying sexual debut
    until marriage; and
  
  
  • The development of skills for practicing
    abstinence.
  
  
  
  


• For older youth above age 14, promotion
  of ABC including:
  
  
  • Dignity and self worth;
  
  
  • The importance of abstinence in
    reducing the transmission of HIV;
  
  
  • The importance of delaying sexual
    activity until marriage;
  
  
  • The development of skills for practicing
    abstinence, and where appropriate,
    secondary abstinence;
  
  
  • The elimination of casual sexual
    partnerships;
  
  
  • The importance of marriage and mutual
    faithfulness in reducing the transmission
    of HIV among individuals in long-term
    relationships;
  
  
  • The importance of HIV counseling and
    testing; and