FROM PRESTON, ENGLAND TO LUSAKA, ZAMBIA: EXPERIENCES FROM A NEW SEXUAL HEALTH INTERNATIONAL PROJECT

Introduction:
Zambia has a HIV prevalence rate of 13% with approximately 1.1 million people aged between 15 and 49 living with HIV. Each year an estimated 30,000 people die from AIDS related illnesses. Although ARV’s are free and accessible for those who require treatment, current statistics show variations in coverage, with approximately 90% of adults on treatment and 28.1% of children aged under 15 years of age. Age of first penetrative sex for males is 19.5 and 17.5 for females, with nearly half of all females married by 18 years of age. Condoms are freely available in health clinics; however they are inconsistently used within relationships.

Description:
A new sexual health volunteering project was set up in May 2014 working alongside Sport in Action. Six undergraduate sexual health students from the University of Central Lancashire, Preston travelled to Lusaka. The project rationale provided community peer leaders with specific knowledge and skills around HIV and sexual health promotion, which they could then deliver within their own communities. The students also worked one to one with vulnerable groups utilising sport and games to deliver sexual health key messages.

Lessons Learned:
Young people had varied levels of knowledge of HIV in Lusaka. Common myths included, sexual intercourse with a virgin can cure HIV and toothbrushes can transmit HIV. Young men wanted advice about whether they should be circumcised and the health benefits this may bring.

Recommendations:
Valuable project which should be continued annually.
Student volunteers require a variety of skills and resources to deliver specific key messages around HIV and sexual health promotion
Training local Sport in Action community peer leaders to deliver sexual health promotion is a positive step in providing long term HIV education within Zambian communities