,Peer education as a strategy for HIV/AIDS message delivery among youths: the case of Magugu Community

This study examined peer education as a strategy for HIV/AIDS prevention message delivery among youths in Magugu Community. The previous studies on peer. education focused on peer initiatives and involvement in dealing with such issues as alcoholism, condom use and abstinence among sex workers, truck drivers, cross border petty businessmen and women, students and out of school youths globally and in Africa. Very little has been researched on peer education in Tanzania. There is no any research on peer education that has been conducted in Magugu Community. This study aimed therefore, at attempting to bridge the gap. Descriptive case study design was used to analyse the research tasks in coherent research questions. Qualitative approach was mainly employed in collecting and analysing data. Quantitative approach was also employed to collect data that were intended to collect facts and figures. Semi-structured interview questions were a rich source of information while focus group discussion, observation and documentary reviews complemented them. The data collected were subjected to content analysis. The main themes were identified and analysed. Some of the information obtained was tallied and converted into simple percentages for description and conclusion. The study found that peer educators had been trained and influenced not only by people from different walks of life and experience but also by circumstances and exposure to both mass media and real life situations; were aware of their roles; possessed some characteristics which were crucial to peer education; and also had experienced some problems. However, they proposed solutions to their problems. The study recommends for the need of establishing a formal peer education interventions in Magugu Community. Also, intensive advocacy, mobilization and sensitization of various actors, and the accessibility of reproductive health services which are youth friendly, could lead to a more successful implementation of peer education. Not only that but also, appropriate information about HIV/AIDS to the youths using muni-media approaches is a quarry method of learning among youths. Lastly, it is recommended that, peer education should be integrated in the school curriculum.