AIDS Education and Prevention

This terms has the highest HIV prevalence in Central America 2.01 per 1,000. One-third of all reported HIV/AIDS cases are in young people ages 15 to 24. Given the small population of Belize (235,000) and the large percentage of Belizeans under the age of 24 (64%), the continued increase of HIV/AIDS cases could have a devastating impact on the future of Belize''s economy, health care system and society as a whole. The purpose of this book is twofold: First, to provide an in-depth examination of the behavioral and socio-cultural context of AIDS in Belize; and second, to give a detailed account of the program planning, implementation, and evaluation of a theory-centered peer-facilitated school-based HIV/AIDS education and prevention program on HIV-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among primary and secondary students in Belize.