Using Fashion to Raise Awareness About Unplanned Pregnancies

BY: .

UKZN’s HIV and AIDS Programme hosted a fashion show on the Medical School campus to raise awareness about the growing number of unplanned pregnancies among students and to encourage them to use various contraceptive methods provided by clinics across all campuses.

The event also relaunched and promoted membership to the:

·        Abstinence Forum,

·        LGBTI Forum,

·        Men’s Forum,

·        Positive Living Forum

·        Women’s Forum.

At the show, fashion and art were used to raise awareness about pregnancy with the spotlight on contraceptives to communicate a strong message that proper family planning was the only way for young people to achieve future goals and contribute to the reduction of the spread of HIV and AIDS.

The main message was that unplanned pregnancies had far reaching implications and it was essential to use dual protection until ready to plan for pregnancy.

The Dual Protection approach promotes medical male circumcision and the use of female contraceptive methods while using condoms during sexual intercourse.