Objectives of the seminar:
 Using HIV/AIDS as an entry point into the complex linkages between health and society, the seminar will encourage participants to develop a practical approach to health strategy development that takes into account societal determinants of health.  The objective of this seminar is to develop a method and approaches for assessing vulnerability to HIV/AIDS and to suggest approaches to its reduction.

 The recognition of factors that influence people's vulnerability to HIV/AIDS is intended to lead to:

(1) a better understanding of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and of its societal roots;
(2) a clearer perception of the role played by the HIV/AIDS pandemic in revealing personal and collective vulnerbility factors which apply to HIV/AIDS as well as to other health issues;  and
(3) a definition of prevention, care and support strategies which, aiming both at lowering indivudual risk and changing the societal context, reach beyond existing HIV/AIDS strategies. 
 
 

The concept of vulnerability was presented in Chapter 14 of the first volume of AIDS in the World  (provided as reading material).

 The seminar focuses on a particularly vulnerable population:
      Young People.

Seminar structure:
 The seminar is structured as follows:

 Session 1 (April 5):  Vulnerability assessment: concept and methods (Daniel Tarantola)

 Session 2 (April 12):  Current strategies for HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support (Daniel Tarantola)

 Session 3 (April 19): Education and Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS (John Chittick).

 Session 4 (April 26):  Sexuality, human rights and young people's vulnerability to HIV/AIDS (Sofia Gruskin).

 Session 5 (May 3): Development of objectives, guidelines and list of themes and questions for interviews with young people  (John Chittick).

 May 4-9:  Interviews with young people.

 Session 6 (May 10):  Collective feedback on interviews and finalization of topics for presentations.

 Session 7 (May 17):  Presentations (1)

 Session 8 (May 24):  Presentations (2). All papers due by this date.

Grading:
 The final grade is composed of two elements:
(1) Seminar participation and preparation, including readings, interviews and discussion (40 percent of the grade)
(2) a 12-15 page paper in which they will establish and discuss linkages between selected risk factors related to HIV/AIDS, risk behaviors and selected societal determinants.  Papers will include a description and brief analysis of ongoing actions to reduce risk and vulnerability among young people and suggest approaches to reduce further risk and vulnerability. (60 percent of the grade)

Contact Address and numbers:
 Pending completion of the new building, the Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights of the Harvard School of Public Health is located at 8 Story Street (1st floor), Cambridge, MA 02138.
Tel: (617) 496-4377; Fax: (617) 496-4380.
Communication by  e-mail can be sent to: