Sports and HIV/AIDS Prevention

According to UNAIDS there are an estimatedthirty-three million people living with HIV/AIDS.Since the mid-1980s governments, agencies, andnon-governmental organizations have slowly mobilizedto provide HIV/AIDS prevention education. However, itsoon became evident that prevention programs were notresulting in behavioral changes as expected.Practitioners and academics quickly learned that thiscomplex disease required a creative preventioneducation response.In response, the United Nations identified the needto harness the humanitarian potential of sport toachieve objectives relating to HIV and AIDS educationand prevention. As a result, a number of programswere created that utilize the power of sport toeducate youth on how to protect themselves againstHIV/AIDS. This study will identify HIV/AIDSprevention education programs utilizing sport as adelivery method and evaluate whether these programsare relevant, respectful and effective.

Autorentext

Dawn Dittmann completed her undergraduate studies at the University College of the Fraser Valley and her MA in human security and peacebuilding at Royal Roads University. Her primary areas of interest include HIV/AIDS prevention and education, street youth, and youth involved in the justice system. Dawn is an instructor at Mount Royal College.

Klappentext
According to UNAIDS there are an estimated thirty-three million people living with HIV/AIDS. Since the mid-1980s governments, agencies, and non-governmental organizations have slowly mobilized to provide HIV/AIDS prevention education. However, it soon became evident that prevention programs were not resulting in behavioral changes as expected. Practitioners and academics quickly learned that this complex disease required a creative prevention education response. In response, the United Nations identified the need to harness the humanitarian potential of sport to achieve objectives relating to HIV and AIDS education and prevention. As a result, a number of programs were created that utilize the power of sport to educate youth on how to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS. This study will identify HIV/AIDS prevention education programs utilizing sport as a delivery method and evaluate whether these programs are relevant, respectful and effective.