The overall goal of this training is to reduce HIV transmission, the transmission of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancy among young people.
There is an ever increasing and compelling body of evidence that curriculum-based programmes (e.g., sex and STI/HIV education programmes in schools or elsewhere) can reduce multiple sexual risk behaviours that place young people at risk of HIV, other STIs and unintended pregnancy. For example, they can delay sex, reduce the number of sexual partners and/or increase condom use.
Curriculum-based programmes are based on a curriculum or structured set of activities involving groups of people, young people in this case. Although curriculum-based programmes can be effective at changing behaviour, not all curricula and programmes are effective. About two thirds change one or more behaviours among all participants or important groups of participants, while the remaining one third may increase knowledge or have other positive effects but do not significantly change behaviour. The programmes that were effective at changing behaviour were different from those that did not change behaviour, and the characteristics that distinguish between effective and ineffective programmes have been delineated.
This training can thus contribute to the overall goal of reducing HIV, STI and unintended pregnancy by helping curriculum designers develop curricula that incorporate the characteristics of effective programmes, and help other professionals provide needed support for the implementation of programmes based on these curricula. When these programmes are widely implemented with fidelity, they can reduce sexual risk behaviour and STI/HIV transmission.
