Page 47 - GHES-3-2

Global Health Economics and
Sustainability
Health education to combat HIV in African youth

• Community advisory boards: Establishing community realize better health and socioeconomic outcomes across
advisory boards can promote community engagement Sub-Saharan Africa.
and ensure that health programs are culturally
sensitive and responsive to local needs (Khan, 2024) Acknowledgments
• Utilizing community health workers: Harnessing the None.
role of community health workers in HIV care can
enhance access to health services and education, Funding
particularly in underserved areas (Mwai et al., 2013) None.
• Integration of services: Combining sexual and
reproductive health services with HIV programs Conflict of interest
can broaden the reach and impact of interventions,
addressing multiple health needs simultaneously The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
(UNAIDS, 2023)
• School engagement: Collaborating with schools Author contributions
to integrate health education into the curriculum Conceptualization: Usoro Udousoro Akpan
can reach a large number of youths and ensure Writing – original draft: All authors
comprehensive coverage of key health topics (Gasparri Writing – review & editing: All authors
et al., 2022)
• Gender-sensitive approach: Designing programs that Ethics approval and consent to participate
account for gender differences in health knowledge Not applicable.
and behaviors can address specific needs and
challenges faced by young men and women (Barr Consent for publication
et al., 2024) Not applicable.
• Policy advocacy: Advocating for policies that support
youth-friendly health services, education, and Availability of data
employment opportunities can foster an enabling
environment for youth development and health Not applicable.
promotion (Bedingar et al., 2024). References

4. Conclusion: Moving forward with Abate, B.B., Kassie, A.M., Reta, M.A., Ice, G.H., & Haile, Z.T.
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from all stakeholders. The high burden of HIV in the region Alvarez-Uria, G., Midde, M., & Naik, P.K. (2012). Socio-
underscores the urgent need for effective, youth-friendly demographic risk factors associated with HIV infection in
prevention education programs. While various barriers patients seeking medical advice in a rural hospital of India.
have hindered past interventions, the proposed strategies Journal of Public Health Research, 1(1):79-82.
discussed provide a way forward to develop more inclusive, https://doi.org/10.4081/jphr.2012.e14
tailored, and sustainable solutions. Ongoing commitment Andrew, P.O., & Andrew, R.N. (2020). Association between
through sustained funding, community engagement, HIV/AIDS knowledge and risk behaviors among African
and capacity building of local partners will be critical to American undergraduate students at a historically black
successfully curb the HIV epidemic among youths over University. Asian Journal of Research in Infectious Diseases,
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and implementing evidence-based, gender-sensitive https://doi.org/10.9734/ajrid/2020/v4i130136
interventions can help address the diverse circumstances
that fuel risk. Continual monitoring and evaluation coupled Asaolu, I.O., Gunn, J.K.L., Koss, M.P., Iwelunmor, J., &
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from governments, organizations, and communities, more https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0164052
inclusive and responsive health education can empower Barr, E., Marshall, L.J., Collins, L.F., Godfrey, C., Vil, N.S.,
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Volume 3 Issue 2 (2025) 39 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.3577