Presentation delivered at a Knowledge Management conference in 2009 on training of Peer Educators in Mitchell's Plain, South Africa as an HIV knowledge transfer intervention and knowledge product.

1. Hendra van Zyl, Pieter Visser, Elmarie van Wyk
AfroAIDSinfo ,SA Medical Research Council

2. Ø An HIV knowledge transfer product
Ø Background
Ø HIV peer education in context
Ø Aim of the intervention
Ø Project design and methodology
Ø Results of intervention
Ø Conclusion
HIV peer education course – an HIV knowledge transfer product. ICKE, October 2009

3. Conduct of … not
research as directly
a process to linked to
create changing
knowledge is people’s
… lives
the created
knowledge
should be
transformed into
products,
policies and
programmes
HIV peer education course – an HIV knowledge transfer product. ICKE, October 2009

4. Ø AfroAIDSinfo is an HIV/AIDS knowledge transfer project
with an online presence and various community outreach
interventions
Ø Research1 indicated that the highest incidence of HIV-
infection in South Africa occurs in the age group 15 – 24
Ø AfroAIDSinfo became a partner in the Zisukhanyo
Schools Project funded by Irish AID to introduce a
number of HIV interventions at the participating schools
in Mitchell’s Plain. One of these was to develop peer
educators.
Ø
1Dorrington, R.E., Johnson, J.F.,Bradshaw, D. & Daniel,T. (2006). The demographic impact of HIV/AIDS in South
Africa. National and provincial indicators for 2006. Cape Town: Centre for Actuarial Research, South African
Medical Research Council and Actuarial Society of South Africa.
HIV peer education course – an HIV knowledge transfer product. ICKE, October 2009

5. Health
belief
model1
Theory of
participative
education2
Peer
education3
1 Rosenstock, I.M. 1966. Why people use health services. Milbank Memorial Fund Quarterly, 44(94-124).
2 Wight, A. 1970. Participative Education and the Inevitable Revolution. Center for Research and
Education, Estes Park, Colorado, USA.
3 Youth Peer Education Electronic Resourse. 2003. Peer Education Training of Trainers Manual.
HIV peer education course – an HIV knowledge transfer product. ICKE, October 2009

6. Ø Horizontal knowledge transfer
Transfer HIV
Educators and
knowledge to
parents
their peers
Ø Vertical knowledge transfer
• Transfer knowledge and skills to
Educators learners to become HIV youth leaders
to learners
Ø This course was not designed to develop peer counsellors
but peer educators
HIV peer education course – an HIV knowledge transfer product. ICKE, October 2009

7. Ø Objectives: to address the research question
Ø Indicators: to measure if objectives were met
Ø Research instruments: a pre-questionnaire that was
completed by participants before the start of the course
and a post-questionnaire completed after the course
Ø Course content:
Develop skills Understand
Transfer and
to address their role as
build HIV
sensitive peer
knowledge
issues educators
HIV peer education course – an HIV knowledge transfer product. ICKE, October 2009

8. Ø 36 participants: 31 were female; 5 were male
Ø Educators: 32; and Parents: 4
Table 1: Participants ranking their knowledge and skills
Area Before After
HIV knowledge 69% 92%
Confidence to teach HIV classes 51% 86%
Knowledge and ability to teach sex education 42% 86%
A statistical significant improvement (p<0.05) was evident in all three areas
HIV peer education course – an HIV knowledge transfer product. ICKE, October 2009

9. 100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Difference Motivational
Role play HIV+ person Teach factual info Training useful
Gender/sex techniques
Before 31% 37% 64% 31% 19% 72%
After 83% 91% 86% 83% 89% 97%
Before After
Figure 1: Confidence to deal with various topics during the course
HIV peer education course – an HIV knowledge transfer product. ICKE, October 2009

10. Table 1: Measuring objectives
Indi- Achiev-
What the indicators measured
cator ed
25% 23% HIV knowledge increase –
69% before the course to 92% on completion of the course
25% 35% Skills to transfer HIV knowledge horizontally to peers and
vertically to learners –
51% before the course to 86% after the course
25% 44% Skills to transfer sensitive knowledge –
42% before the course and 86%
50% 100% 60% pass mark for assignments achieved by 50%
participants to demonstrate their understanding of peer
education
HIV peer education course – an HIV knowledge transfer product. ICKE, October 2009

11. Primary:
Educators and parents – confidence,
knowledge and skills to act as peer
educators / Internationally certified
School and community:
They will act as PE at HIV events /
Skills and knowledge will be used in
classrooms and community projects
Social:
Parents can confidently participate in
CBO interventions as Peer educator
Trainers
HIV peer education course – an HIV knowledge transfer product. ICKE, October 2009

12. Ø Irrespective of culture, it seemed that South African
educators and parents struggled with the same
challenges and frustrations - how to transfer HIV
knowledge - this was also the reason why participants
derived huge benefits from the course as predicted by the
health belief model.
Ø The course carries international accreditation and it is
implemented as an effective HIV knowledge product.
Ø This knowledge transfer product is presented as good
practice
HIV peer education course – an HIV knowledge transfer product. ICKE, October 2009

13. Ø ‘Learning is a lifelong process. Given the knowledge and
skills I have learnt, I feel more empowered. I have learnt
a number of interesting games and methods here. The
learners and educators will enjoy doing it.’
Ø ‘It was straightforward. The explanations were clear and
the activities helped me implement what the learners
must do, such as role play.’
Ø ‘The course was too short. It should have been at least a
week.’
HIV peer education course – an HIV knowledge transfer product. ICKE, October 2009

14. Ø SA Medical Research Council
Ø Protea Schools Development
Project
Ø Irish AID
Ø Family Health International