Using focus groups to develop HIV education among adolescent females in Zimbabwe

Seventy-eight adolescent females from Zimbabwe participated in focus groups to assess need for HIV/AIDS prevention and education. The interview guide dealt with HIV transmission, prevention and education. Results show a high level of awareness regarding HIV transmission, however, myths and misconceptions still persist. General AIDS information was perceived as widely available, but individual counseling was perceived as nonexistent. Although most of the young women still hold to traditional values regarding marriage, negative male sexual attitudes and economic hardships were perceived as major factors that make females of their age vulnerable to HIV infections. Participants recommended face-to-face, gender-specific HIV/AIDS prevention and education. Nurses, physicians, persons living with AIDS and church officials were identified as possible facilitators. Based on this focus group experience, future efforts in developing comprehensive AIDS prevention and education programs should target adolescent and adult males in order to assess salient issues regarding HIV/AIDS prevention and education.