RTK - Ghana Profile

Young people as a percentage of total population:
34% (age 10-24)

Estimated percentage of young people living with HIV/AIDS:
Female – 3.9%
Male – 1.8%

RTK INITIATIVE STATUS
Phase I: Planning for RTK -- Completed
Phase II: Participatory Action Research -- Initiated; to be completed upon receipt of funding
Phase III: Research development and Implementation of Communication Strategy -- To be initiated 2003

PURPOSE
The primary goal of Right to Know is to plan and implement adolescent communication strategies that provide adolescents (both in school and out of school) with information and lifeskills for the prevention of HIV/AIDS, and to ensure adolescent participation in all aspects of planning and implementation.

PRIORITY ACTIVITIES, 2002-2003:

• TK will investigate and develop communication strategies that build on the findings from the national Rapid IEC assessment, which indicates that:
• Many young people know about HIV/AIDS, but there are many misconceptions
• Low risk perception of young people
• IEC Activities are ad hoc and not co-ordinated
• Materials are difficult to find and are not being reproduced
• A lot of information on condom use, yet not enough on abstinence and faithfulness
• Integration of RTK activities into the 2001-2005 HIV/AIDS government plan of action

PARTNERS AND LINKAGES

• Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana as the collaborating research institution;
• Steering Committee and Youth Co-ordination comprised of UN, governmental and NGOs: MOE, MOH, UNFPA, UNAIDS, WHO, UNESCO, Worldbank, Ghana Aids Commission, John Hopkins University [Sara Initiative], SCR-UK, and the Red Cross.

KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE

• RTK West Africa Regional Training 13-17 May 2002.
• 1 week PAR training conducted by PPAG with 18 young people, 7-11 Oct. 2002.
• Peer educators trained to conduct and analyse base-line survey of knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices [KABP].
• RTK youth trained by a UNICEF HQ photographer to use cameras during PAR for documentation and research.
• Advocacy with national Dutch and Ghana football teams in both funding and training of youth football players.
• Final compilation of PAR data during November 2002.