The intervention has three components: developing an SRH (including HIV and AIDS) curriculum for deaf students, creating the first SRH sign language glossary in Vietnam, and providing SRH knowledge and teaching skills for teachers.
The SRH curriculum comprises 16 topics with 54 class hours that cover almost all aspects of reproductive health, such as body change at puberty; contraception, and HIV testing. This is the first time for SRH to be taught as an independent learning subject in Vietnam. Extra-curricular activities are great opportunities for hearing-impaired students to practice knowledge, attitude and skills acquired from this curriculum.
The SRH glossary in sign language is applied by teachers to accurately transfer the SRH knowledge provided by the new education programme to hearing-impaired students. There are about 400 words in the glossary which supplement the SRH vocabulary of students. A series of training courses on SRH, basic HIV and AIDS knowledge and SRH and HIV counselling are provided to teachers who work with hearing-impaired students to ensure that they are fully equipped with the necessary knowledge. A counselling room is available in each school. The room, which is equipped with SRH videos, leaflets and books, is also used for providing friendly and confidential counselling in sign language for hearing-impaired students.
In 2009, the developed teaching method was piloted; 88 Students took part in the pilot. A counselling manual for teachers has been developed as well; 497 Students made use of the opportunity to receive counselling. Over 700 copies of the SRHR brochures and information materials were disseminated among parents and teachers during discussion sessions.
