Abstract

LAPERRIERE, Hélène. Evaluation of STD/HIV/AIDS peer-education and danger: a local perspective. Ciênc. saúde coletiva [online]. 2008, vol.13, n.6, pp. 1817-1824. ISSN 1413-8123.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1413-81232008000600016.

An evaluation of peer-education projects with sex workers, men who have sex with men and marginalized adolescents, was introduced in a remote region of Brazil. The context of varied limits of predictability made it difficult to conduct inquiry. To go beyond available epidemiological surveys and questionnaires on sexual behavior, a self-evaluation aimed at increasing pragmatic knowledge about prevention in a challenging socio-political context. During five-months, a participatory-action research explored participant observation; individual and collective exchanges with users, peer-educators, coordinators, administrators, politicians and regional health professionals. Collective understanding of peer-education in prostitution zones underlines the reality of unforeseen social repercussions and confluence/divergence of multiple actors' perspectives. It identifies meaningful dimensions at a community-level, such as the collective history and dangerous working conditions. Nurses face complex struggles and negotiations over multiple actors in their practice. This study suggests that nurses have a role to play in the conceptualization of participatory evaluation. It also underlines the threats to their physical and social safety, which they might share with peer-educators.

Keywords : Peer-education; Participatory evaluation; STD/HIV/AIDS; Politics; Public Health Nursing.