Ngao: AIDS education for primary school children.

Approximately 80% of children in Tanzania complete primary school but only less than 20% continue on to secondary school. Primary schools are therefore a place in which large numbers of Tanzanians can be reached with HIV prevention messages at an early age before developing behavioral patterns which predispose them to risk of HIV infection. Responding to the low overall level of AIDS knowledge among school pupils in Arusha and Kilimanjaro regions the Tanzanian-Norwegian AIDS Project (MUTAN) HIV/AIDS education team developed a school-based HIV/AIDS education program. The results and experience gained from its implementation with sixth and seventh graders in 18 schools throughout the two regions are presented. Traditional sex education the Ngao program field testing program impact on participating children how participating teachers and health workers perceive Ngao and implications for future school-based AIDS education are discussed.