School-Integrated HIV Prevention Strategies in Cape Town’s Informal Settlements: A Comprehensive Analysis

Schools play a pivotal role in community health interventions due to their proximity to informal settlements and large student populations. A mixed-methods approach was employed, including surveys, focus group discussions, and interviews with educators, students, and parents to gather comprehensive data from 10 randomly selected schools across five informal settlements in Cape Town. Findings indicate that while knowledge dissemination about HIV/AIDS was significantly enhanced (85% of respondents reported increased awareness), behaviour change remains a challenge (only 40% of students reported consistent condom use). The integration of school-based HIV prevention strategies into existing curricula and community programmes shows promise but requires targeted interventions to promote behavioural changes among adolescents. Enhanced training for educators on evidence-based HIV prevention methods, increased parental involvement in children’s education, and the expansion of peer-led support groups are recommended to facilitate behaviour change.