Sport Activities As A Vehicle For HIV/ AIDS Prevention in Trinidad and Tobago: Organizer’s Perspectives - Sport Activities As A Vehicle For HIV/ AIDS Prevention in Trinidad and Tobago: Organizer’s Perspectives - Open Access Pub

Various sporting activities are being used as vehicles for HIV/AIDS education and prevention within the field of sport-for-development (SFD). Kicking AIDS Out! is one SFD program that aims to promote protective attitudes regarding HIV/AIDS amongst youth. This study explored organizers’ perspectives of the use of sporting activities in the Kicking AIDS Out! program in Trinidad and Tobago. Qualitative case study methodology was used to examine the case. Data was generated through semi-structured interviews with seven organizers who were Kicking AIDS Out! staff or volunteer members. Thematic analysis guided data analysis. Generated themes include: Sport to Draw, There’s Something for Everyone, the Emotional Wow, and Beyond Sports. These themes illuminate the idea that sport captivates and attracts youth, and illustrate the use of sport activities to promote engagement in the program as they are tailored to the skills and interests of youth. Sport activities may challenge values and beliefs regarding HIV/AIDS and may promote engagement in new roles, such as those as advocate or caregiver for individuals with HIV/AIDS, and engagement in healthy lifestyle behaviours, such as safe sexual encounters. The findings of this study offer an opportunity for HIV/AIDS prevention programs to consider their use of sporting activities in a manner that achieves these SFD characteristics. DOI10.14302/issn.2324-7339.jcrhap-13-200 Second to sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean is the region most affected by HIV/AIDS1. In the last twenty years, Trinidad and Tobago experienced a 500% increase in HIV/AIDS cases2; of which 45% were youth aged 15 – 24 3. To target this age group, evidence suggests that direct and continuous prevention programs are required1. Knowledge about HIV/AIDS is the first step to preventing transmission4, followed by resources and support1. It is also critical that prevention efforts are culturally appropriate, stage-specific, and grounded in behavioural theories to be effective5. Engagement in sport improves self-esteem, problem-solving and social skills, physical and mental health, and academic performance6, 7, 8, 9. Sport and physical activity can contribute to changing behaviour through transformation of attitudes10. As such, sport can be used to achieve international development goals such as combating HIV/AIDS11. In 2001, sport was formally recognized by the United Nations (UN) as a mechanism to address international development goals to eradicate HIV/AIDS12. Sport-for-Development (SFD) refers to the use of physical activity (e.g. football, basketball,