1. The truth about AIDS. Pass it on…
Kenya Red Cross Society
Behavior Change; Will It
Really Work?
Presented by:
Salima Mohammed
Kenya Red Cross Society
Uasin Gishu Branch

2. The truth about AIDS. Pass it on…
Kenya Red Cross Society
Back Ground Information
 Behavior change communication is a
process whose objective is to bring about
positive behavior change such that STI
and HIV/ AIDS transmission is reduced by
delaying the onset of sexual behavior
 Behavior, experiences, feelings and beliefs
are linked to each other as behavior is
caused by feelings or attitude which are as
a result of different life experiences

3. The truth about AIDS. Pass it on…
Kenya Red Cross Society
Back Ground Information Cont’d
 Kenya Red Cross Society is in the process
of implementing a Peer Education
Programme
 This is one aspect of Comprehensive care
and is meant to increase levels of
awareness thus bring about positive
behavior change.

4. The truth about AIDS. Pass it on…
Kenya Red Cross Society
Key Findings
 In Kenya, the awareness levels of HIV/
AIDS is quoted as 90% but prevalence
rates are still high. This could be because
they have not internalized the information
as beliefs which are reflected in their value
systems.
 Behavior change is a process that follows
specified steps which Kenya Red Cross
Society is implementing through

5. The truth about AIDS. Pass it on…
Kenya Red Cross Society
Key Findings cont’d
 Acquisition of knowledge and skills –
Youths trained in Peer Education which
includes life skills
 Motivation to take action – Importance of
delay in on set of sexual activities made
clear to the youth thus
 Trial of new skills and action – Youths try
out the new actions and realize there
benefits

6. The truth about AIDS. Pass it on…
Kenya Red Cross Society
Key Findings cont’d
 Unawareness - Youth not aware of HIV/
AIDS and its impact on the community
 Awareness of a problem – Youths made
aware HIV/ AIDS and its impact on the
community
 Success in implementing new skills
 Sustained behavior change

7. The truth about AIDS. Pass it on…
Kenya Red Cross Society
Lessons learnt
 Through the Peer Education, Behavior
change can take place
 Peer educators bring about positive
behavior change by acting as role models
to their peers who motivate other youths to
change

8. The truth about AIDS. Pass it on…
Kenya Red Cross Society
Recommendations
 Peer education programme scaled up to
many more schools so as to reach more
people
 Community ownership of programs