Overview of HIV Risk Reduction Interventions among Adolescents - A Call to Evaluate the HIV Education Curriculum in Nigeria

Background: Adolescence is typically a period of experimentation, new experiences, and vulnerability which influences their HIV risk behaviours. Some may out-grow many risk behaviors, yet prevention efforts are needed to reduce the risk of HIV infection during this period. Knowledge about risk is not sufficient for the prevention of HIV risk behavior. This review examines the existing types of education targeted at reducing HIV risk and their application to adolescents for optimal outcome.

Methodology: Keywords from objectives of review were used to search for related literatures through online libraries of national and international journals. Out of 60 related studies initially generated, 38 literatures were selected for review.

Results: School-based health services should ideally be complementary rather than replacement option for the provision of health care services for adolescents. Interventions to improve HIV knowledge and reduce risky sexual behaviour may need to specifically target adolescents. The types of HIV risk reduction education intervention among adolescents is classified into peer-based and health provider-based education. Given the complexity of factors that contribute to risk behavior, prevention efforts that focus exclusively on knowledge are unlikely to be successful. Effective school-based (youth-targeted) HIV prevention programs, which typically rely on principles of social cognitive (Learning) theory could be employed to bridge the gap.

Conclusion and Recommendations: With this in mind, a comprehensive review of the Family life and HIV education (FLHE) programme in Nigerian secondary schools is long overdue.