Critical appraisal of the HIV trip- Kid's View.

Since, the major objective of the trip was to give to these children a clear understanding about HIV/AIDS, their answers to HIV questions were of great significance:

1. Name two methods/means a person can use to prevent AIDS

37 out of 40 children mentionned abstinence, i.e 92.5%

16 mentionned faithfulness, i.e. 40%

12 mentionned condom, i.e. 30%

8, i.e. 20%, said "seeing every person they meet as HIV positive" will prevent contacting HIV.

4, i.e. 10%, mentionned avoiding sharp material such as razor blades as another way of preventing AIDS

Not going to an illegal practitionner was mentionned twice as another way of prevention.

NB: Percentages do not add up to 100% because kids could name more than 1 option.

It is clear that abstinence and faithfulness (to your spouse) are the mainly known ways of prevention. This is not surprising as it is the mostly preached message in churches.

However the use of condoms was also significantly mentionned and it shows that some of the children have broadned their understanding beyond what is normally taught in church or at home (the usue of condom is associated with evil=sin).

Seeing every person as HIV positive may seem a bit strange, but it has its relevance. This is becasue people tend to tell who may or not be HIV positive by just looking at how they appear outside.

For example, fat and strong people can mistakenly be considered as HIV negative. Thus seeing everyone as HIV positive will help these kids not to rely on external appearances in deciding who may or may not be HIV positive?

2. Name three ways a person can contract AIDS.

Having unprotected sex was mentionned 39 times, i.e. 97.5%. That means only one child didn’t mention it as a way of contracting AIDS.

Sharing needles and other skin piercing is another higly mentionned way: 31 times, i.e. 77%.

Mother to child transmission is also another way, mentionned 15 times, i.e. 37.5%.

Blood transfusion 13 times, i.e. 32.5%.

Going to an illegal practitionner 10 times, i.e. 25%

Kissing in presence of mouth lesions was mentionned 3 times, i.e. 7.5%

Saliva was mentionned once, i.e. 2.5%. Again this clearly shows the message those children have been exposed to.

Having unprotected sex and sharing needles and skin piercing ranks first and this is consistent with the National HIV prevention information strategy that kids may have come accross at school.

3. List of different lessons learnt from the trip.

24, or 60% of, children were excited about seeing the meteo instruments. They had learnt about them before the trip but seeing them has increased their understanding.

20, i.e. 50%, children were excited about Kibogora Hospital, i.e. rooms and different departments. Some mentionned that they will work hard in order to be part of the hospital staff one day!!!

Knowing new places, seing a plane, lake Kivu and an airport rank high on their discovery list by 18, 18, 15 and 14 (45%, 45%, 37.5% and 35%) respectively.

11, or 27.5% of, kids said "the trip enriched their knoweledge as they confidently know how to prevent themselves from HIV, they also said they know how to care or bear with HIV positive people.

This last aspect contrasts with the widely believed rural theory that stigmatizes HIV positive people.

16 kids, or 40%, said they are very happy to have seen the life of students at the secondary school and they would like to work hard to go to secondary school.

The list continues including seeing nice houses and buildings, some administrative offices (Nyamasheke district offices), modern livestock, some crops (tea and coffee), boats, Bukavu and Kamembe Cities and ….a washing machine!!!!!!

Due to the culture of criticism developped by daily written assessment of the school meal, the children were also more than prepared to notice and report any imperfections in the preparation or execution of the trip.

4. Kids' critical appraisal of the trip.

They unanimously said it was good, nice and asking blessings to RSVP people wo organised and funded the trip.

Suggestions included requests to visit other places such as Nyungwe National Park, Kigali City (the country capital) and the National Museum.

To read a direct translation of kids' questionnaire and a few answers, please click here.

HIV Trip: Teachers's View.       Nov 07 Newsletter Listings.