New Development in Education to Prevent Sexual Transmitted Infections, Especially HIV/AIDS: Actual Practice of Sexuality Health Education by Means of Peer Counseling Approach

Abstract

Despite the pervasion of sexually transmitted diseases (STIs), especially HIV/AIDS, among the younger generation in Japan as shown in various statistical data, young people themselves do not seem to be taking the matter seriously and think of it as "someone else's problem." This is what is felt strongly by those who work in the field of sexual health education. This chapter introduces some of the practices and effects of the deployment approach using a peer counseling method in health education to increase young people's awareness of these problems. As a qualitative move in health education, the aim of this education is that young people will acquire correct knowledge from trained peer counselors of their own generation, increase their awareness of problems, and become capable of self-direction in their behavior. This approach, as a part of national policies under the "Healthy Parents and Children 21" (Sukoyaka Oyako 21) project of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, is currently being practiced in 22 prefectures in Japan, collaboration with the authorities governing local health care and school health care. Although many issues still remain for further study, it is the author's expectation that this approach to encourage young people in their adolescent years to mutually care about, and protect, their sexuality and health in a proactive manner will be further developed.