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Children and youth at risk: adaptation and pilot study of the CHAMP (Amaqhawe) programme in South Africa


Arvin Bhana
Inge Petersen
Andy Mason
Zoleka Mahintsho
Carl Bell
Mary McKay

Abstract

This paper reports on the adaptation and pilot study of the CHAMP programme (Collaborative HIV/AIDS and Adolescent Mental Health Programme) in South Africa with specific reference to outcome effects among adults. CHAMP was originally developed in the United States and is a developmentally-timed intervention, which aims to prevent HIV infection in youth through promoting resiliency in pre-adolescents and their families as well as strengthening the community protective shield. The adaptation was informed by a focused ethnographic study of the risk influences for HIV transmission in adolescents at the individual, family/interpersonal and community levels within the study site and achieved through a collaborative partnership of academics, community members, graphic artists and service providers. The CHAMP programme in South Africa (Amaqhawe) employs participatory adult education principles, including a participatory cartoon-based narrative method to deliver its content. Proximal outcome effects of the pilot study demonstrate positive effects amongst the parent participants at the individual and interpersonal/family levels of influence compared to the comparison group indicating the potential applicability of the CHAMP programme in South Africa.



Keywords: adolescents, AIDS, collaborative partnerships, ethnography, families



African Journal of AIDS Research 2004, 3(1): 33–41

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eISSN: 1608-5906
print ISSN: 1727-9445