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Section of Pediatric Infectious Disease

HIV/AIDS Care

Community-based HIV Prevention

PAHCT is committed to reducing the transmission of HIV among at-risk adolescents in the Chicago area. Working closely with schools and youth groups in the South Side, the team presents HIV Prevention workshops aimed at educating at-risk youths. This community based intervention addresses the following prevention priorities:

  1. Increase awareness of risk factors for HIV/AIDS and knowledge of prevention strategies,
  2. Motivate youth to reduce high risk behaviors and test to know HIV status
  3. Decrease the perceived or real barriers to HIV testing
  4. Link to HIV services to ensure those who test positive follow up for referral and treatment

Medical and social work staff cover topics that include, definitions of HIV and Sexual Transmitted Infections (STIs), modes of transmission, treatments, prevention strategies, dispelling myths, and negotiating safe sex practices. Various mediums are used including, videos, formal presentations, and interactive exercises with an opportunity for a question and answer session. Educational materials are distributed along with a personal protection kit.

PAHCT is also developing HIV prevention workshops at selected middle and high schools for public school personnel who have daily contact and influence with the student population. These include teachers, social workers, counselors, support staff and student leaders who will train to become peer educators. PAHCT will provide these future HIV-educators with the necessary tools to regularly talk to youth about HIV.

For more information, or if you want the HIV education and outreach team to present to your group, call Linda Walsh 773/702-3853 or Ruth Martin 773/702-6970