Methods and perspectives of AIDS prevention among secondary school teachers in Namur

In Belgium s French community most of the government subsidies allocated to the war against AIDS since 1987 went to primary prevention programs in schools especially at the secondary high school level. But at the same time epidemiological data show only a low level of HIV infection among people aged 15-19 years old. In 1994 ASBL Namur-Entraide-Sida developed a questionnaire-based study which was sent to teachers in all of Namur s secondary schools in order to learn what was taught about AIDS in their courses. Of the 2435 questionnaires distributed in the 25 schools contacted 617 were returned of which 605 were successfully coded. Survey respondents were of mean age 38.6 years while the male/female ratio was 0.63. 15% of respondents teach French 13% teach languages 12% teach mathematics and 11% teach sciences. Only 2% felt that discussing AIDS with their students was out of the question. 11% believe that they must discuss the subject in their courses 6% believe that others should raise the subject and 80% believe that teachers should discuss AIDS only with the help and participation of others.