Abstract #372  -  The school as a venue for managing and preventing pediatric HIV infection: opportunities and challenges: the experience of Botswana Baylor school staff training project
Authors:   Presenting Author:   Refilwe Sello -
Additional Authors:  Mr Edwin Machine, Mr/s Bakani Johnson, Ms Grace Karugaba, Ms Mary Letshwiti,
Aim: BACKGROUND: The increasing need for a diversified and multifaceted care for HIV infected and affected children led Botswana- Baylor to focus attention to training school staff to enhance their capacity to provide a supportive environment and offer prevention and care services to school going children and adolescents. The Botswana-Baylor School Staff training is collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD). The project is a result of a realization that optimum care for HIV infected children could be achieved if the major elements in a child’s life (in this case family, school, and health care) are responsive to their needs and when each element operates to enhance the other. The Training Project is three-phased and includes a pilot; a national psychosocial survey of school aged infected and affected children and a national rollout phase. We present the results of the pilot review and highlight the opportunities and challenges of the project so far. OBJECTIVES: 1. To outline the major achievements of the Botswana-Baylor School Staff Training Project. 2. To identify and discuss opportunities and challenges of schools in Botswana to offer HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support services to children and adolescents.
Method / Issue: A COE-based training and M&E team reviewed training reports and conducted a review of the Staff Training Project at a sample of schools covered by the training. Feedback sessions were conducted with school heads, guidance and counseling teachers and relevant MOE staff. A review of MOE School Health and HIV/AIDS related policies, guidelines, plans and reports was also conducted.
Results / Comments: 1. Achievements: By May 2009, twenty five schools (16 Primary, 9 secondary) and 925 staff had been covered by the training. 85% were teaching staff. The average difference between pre and post test performance was 15.25%. After the Training 5/20 schools have rolled out the training to all students and the Parent Teachers Association PTA). 9/20 schools aspects of the training into school health activities. The project won an ICATCH AWARD, World Bank Funding for National rollout and increased funding from MoESD. 2. Opportunities and resources in Botswana schools system: Schools currently enjoy increasing attention from external groups including (funding agencies) who see schools as attractive sites for reaching target populations; fulltime guidance and counseling teachers; functional school health projects and school health clubs; direct contact with large numbers of children and their parents (PTA); placed within resource rich communities; a functional food and nutrition program; a range of professionals; numerous opportunities for health messages to be integrated into ongoing instruction; the schools provide numerous adult and peer role models; 3. Challenges: School staff are overextended; competing teaching priorities; the public nature of schools makes parents and caregivers doubt their ability to protect privacy and confidentiality of children’s HIV status. The culture of the school is very different from the culture of the health care systems that are designed to elicit personal information and to protect the privacy of children and families; very few caregivers disclose to school personnel (even where there is need); lack of expertise and resources- there is need for more training and education on Pediatric HIV/AIDS care and treatment
Discussion: : The SST is an effective way of extending the reach of information about HIV infection in children to school staff, students, parents and community members who need the information. Educated school staff can have a great impact on the quality of life for HIV-infected children and their families. They can serve as resources and as advocates for health and HIV prevention for their schools and communities. SST has also received popular demand as a best practice model.
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