The objective of this project has been to provide high quality, technically sound, skills-oriented HIV prevention education, with a focus on substance abuse prevention, relapse prevention and addictions counseling in Hai Phong Medical University and Secondary Medical School. The project is expected to have two Intermediate Results, including the production of an HIV prevention education curriculum for Medical University and Secondary Medical School, and a supportive policy environment for curriculum uptake on a wider scale. | JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, Hue University, N0 61, 2010 USING BLOCK CURRICULA: A NEW APPROACH TO IMPROVE HIV AND AIDS PRE-SERVICE TRAINING IN HAI PHONG – VIET NAM Ngo Van Huu, Pham Xuan Truong, Pathfinder International Viet Nam ABBREVIATIONS HP Hai Phong MC Medical College MU Medical University HIV/AIDS Human Immunodeficiency Virus /Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome SOW Scope of Work KAS Knowledge, Attitudes and Skills PI Pathfinder International SMS Secondary Medical School SBIRT Screening, assessment, brief intervention, referral and treatment. MOH Ministry of Health. MCQ Multiple Choice Question TU Technical Update NGO Non-Government Organization VCT Voluntary Counselling and Testing IUD Intravenous Drug User PAC Provincial AIDS Control Committee RH Reproductive Health PLWHA People Living With HIV/AIDS 225 SUMMARY Introduction: Hai Phong has the highest HIV prevalence rates in Viet Nam. Most of newly infected HIV cases in Viet Nam are IDUs. Currently curricula for medical and nursing students are primarily theory-based, taught in a highly fragmented fashion and have limited HIV/AIDS content. As a result, graduated students face difficulty in responding to the needs of HIV-related services in general health settings. Methods: Since 2007, Pathfinder International/Viet Nam supported the development and implementation of comprehensive, skillsbased curricula for HIV/AIDS care and treatment services at Hai Phong Medical University (MU) and Medical College (MC). Technical assistance includes development of HIV/AIDS curricula, technical updates, and establishment of and strengthen practicum sites at teaching hospitals and within the community. Results: Three- and four-week rotations were designed and used in both Hai Phong MU and MC. Feedback received from nursing and medical students in the 2008-09 and from teachers and preceptors was used to improve curricula. To date, 384 medical and 659 nursing
