HIV Prevention and Awareness Training Course

Duration 5 days 10 modules · 33 contact hours
Level Intermediate Certificate on completion
Who attends Public Health Officers, Nurses and Clinical Officers and others
Fee from USD 1,100 KSh 95,000 for Kenyan organisations
Where 52 cities + online See dates by city
Next start 16 Nov 2026 Course code SD-PH-049

Before you join: Participants should have basic experience in health, social care, community outreach, workplace wellness or programme delivery.

Dates & prices

Two start dates a month in every city, and live online on weekdays or weekends. Fees are per participant; classroom fees include tuition, materials, lunch and refreshments, and the certificate.

Suggest a date or city

Showing the next six months. Later dates, other cities and private deliveries for your team are available on request.

Course overview

HIV prevention work requires more than factual knowledge about transmission. Health and social care professionals must identify exposure risks, communicate without stigma, connect people to testing and prevention services, protect confidentiality, and support treatment adherence. Weak referral processes, inaccurate risk messages and discriminatory interactions can delay diagnosis, reduce service uptake and undermine viral suppression goals.

This course examines HIV epidemiology, transmission, testing, prevention, treatment and rights-based service delivery. Participants learn to explain U=U accurately, distinguish PrEP from PEP, apply the WHO 5 Cs to testing encounters, communicate test-window limitations, and use person-centred counselling techniques. The programme also addresses priority-population programming, stigma reduction, partner services, safeguarding, referral pathways, data quality and prevention monitoring.

Delivered over five instructor-led days in classroom locations across 50+ cities or live online, the course combines focused briefings, facilitated case analysis, communication practice, group planning and service-improvement scenarios. Participants receive a certificate of completion and leave with a practical HIV prevention response plan, referral pathway map, counselling checklist and monitoring framework that can be adapted to their service, workplace or community programme.

The course is suited to professionals who already work with patients, clients, communities or workplace health programmes and need a structured, evidence-informed approach to HIV prevention and awareness.

What you will be able to do

  • Interpret HIV epidemiology, transmission routes and service-cascade data for prevention decisions
  • Conduct rights-based HIV testing conversations using the WHO 5 Cs
  • Select appropriate combination prevention options, including condoms, PrEP and PEP
  • Explain HIV treatment, viral suppression and U=U using accurate non-stigmatising language
  • Apply motivational interviewing and teach-back techniques during HIV prevention counselling
  • Design a targeted HIV prevention response using logic models and SMART objectives
  • Monitor prevention and referral performance using disaggregated indicators and data-quality checks
  • Produce an HIV prevention action plan with referral, communication and risk-control measures

Benefits of attending

For you

  • Communicate HIV risks, testing results and prevention choices with greater accuracy
  • Handle sensitive discussions about stigma, disclosure and sexual health professionally
  • Recognise when PrEP, PEP, testing or clinical referral may be appropriate
  • Create credible HIV awareness messages without reinforcing myths or blame
  • Document a practical prevention improvement plan for immediate workplace use

For your organisation

  • Improves consistency of HIV prevention messages across staff and service points
  • Strengthens testing, referral and follow-up pathways for clients at risk
  • Reduces stigma-related barriers that discourage testing and treatment engagement
  • Supports safer handling of confidentiality, consent and sensitive client information
  • Provides usable indicators for monitoring prevention reach, linkage and retention

Course modules

10 modules over 5 days

Participants can interpret core HIV concepts and epidemiological measures for prevention planning.

  • Global and local HIV epidemiology interpreted using incidence, prevalence and cascade data
  • HIV transmission routes distinguished from casual-contact myths using evidence
  • Viral load, CD4 count and immune suppression explained clinically
  • Acute infection, chronic infection and AIDS classified by clinical features
  • Social determinants mapped to HIV exposure, testing and treatment access
  • UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets connected to programme performance measures

Participants can explain HIV transmission risk and distinguish effective prevention from misinformation.

  • Blood, semen, vaginal fluids, rectal fluids and breast milk assessed
  • Transmission probability explained through exposure type, viral load and prevention
  • Undetectable equals untransmittable communicated accurately for sexual transmission contexts
  • Mother-to-child transmission prevention linked to antenatal, delivery and breastfeeding care
  • Sexually transmitted infections assessed as HIV acquisition and transmission cofactors
  • Standard precautions separated from HIV-specific prevention and stigma-driven practices

Participants can support ethical HIV testing conversations and timely linkage to appropriate services.

  • WHO 5 Cs applied to voluntary HIV testing encounters
  • Risk screening uses behaviour, exposure timing and client priorities
  • Window periods and test algorithms explained without false reassurance
  • Rapid tests, self-tests and laboratory confirmation distinguished correctly
  • Pre-test information addresses consent, confidentiality, benefits and possible results
  • Post-test counselling plans referral, prevention, disclosure and partner services

Participants can match prevention methods to individual exposure risks and service needs.

  • Combination prevention packages matched to population, exposure and service preferences
  • External and internal condoms demonstrated through correct-use communication points
  • PrEP eligibility, adherence support and follow-up schedules assessed
  • PEP initiation pathways apply the 72-hour exposure response window
  • Voluntary medical male circumcision positioned within combination prevention programmes
  • Harm-reduction services address sterile equipment, overdose care and treatment referral

Participants can explain treatment principles and identify appropriate adherence and referral support.

  • ART treatment goals linked to viral suppression and individual wellbeing
  • First-line regimen concepts explained without prescribing beyond professional scope
  • Adherence barriers assessed using non-judgemental, person-centred counselling techniques
  • Viral load monitoring interpreted for treatment response and transmission prevention
  • Drug resistance, treatment failure and clinical referral warning signs identified
  • Retention strategies track missed visits, follow-up and re-engagement safely

Participants can provide HIV information and referrals that uphold dignity, rights and confidentiality.

  • Stigma mechanisms distinguished: enacted, anticipated, internalised and institutional stigma
  • Rights-based services protect informed consent, privacy, dignity and non-discrimination
  • People-first language replaces blame, assumptions and outdated HIV terminology
  • Disclosure decisions supported without coercion, judgement or inappropriate confidentiality breaches
  • Criminalisation, gender inequality and violence assessed as service-access barriers
  • GIPA principles involve people living with HIV in programme decisions

Participants can conduct respectful prevention conversations and respond to common communication barriers.

  • Motivational interviewing uses OARS skills to discuss HIV prevention choices
  • Teach-back confirms understanding of testing, medicines and prevention instructions
  • Risk communication corrects misinformation without amplifying myths or shame
  • Trauma-informed communication recognises safety, trust, choice and collaboration
  • Partner notification options explained with consent, safety and confidentiality safeguards
  • Referral conversations address practical barriers, including cost, transport and documentation

Participants can design a focused prevention response for a defined population and service setting.

  • Needs assessment combines epidemiological data, community insight and service mapping
  • Priority populations identified through burden, vulnerability and access-gap analysis
  • Logic models connect inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes and impact
  • SMART objectives specify prevention coverage, testing uptake and linkage targets
  • Service pathways map referral hand-offs, consent points and follow-up responsibilities
  • Peer outreach models incorporate supervision, safeguarding and boundary management

Participants can monitor HIV prevention performance while protecting confidential client information.

  • Prevention indicators distinguish reach, uptake, retention, viral suppression and incidence
  • Disaggregated data reveal inequities by age, sex, geography and population
  • Data-quality checks test completeness, timeliness, consistency and confidentiality controls
  • Confidential records apply minimum-necessary access, secure storage and retention rules
  • Referral outcomes tracked from first contact through confirmed service linkage
  • Plan-do-study-act cycles improve testing and prevention service performance

Participants can prepare a practical action plan for improving HIV prevention and referral activity.

  • Case data synthesised into a targeted HIV prevention response plan
  • Priority actions sequenced by risk, feasibility, resources and expected impact
  • Stakeholder mapping identifies clinical, community, laboratory and referral partners
  • Implementation risks recorded with mitigation actions, owners and review dates
  • Communication messages adapted for audience literacy, culture and preferred channels
  • Personal application plans define workplace actions, support needs and measures

Exercises and examples are adapted to each cohort's sectors and roles.

What you take back to work

  1. HIV prevention response plan template
  2. WHO 5 Cs testing conversation checklist
  3. Combination prevention options matrix
  4. HIV referral pathway mapping template
  5. Stigma-free communication guide
  6. Prevention monitoring indicator dashboard

Who should attend

  • Public Health Officers — responsible for HIV prevention campaigns, outreach and service coordination
  • Nurses and Clinical Officers — provide testing, counselling, treatment support or referrals
  • Community Health Workers — discuss prevention options and connect clients with local services
  • Social Workers and Case Managers — support disclosure, safeguarding, treatment retention and referrals
  • Workplace Health and Wellness Managers — develop confidential employee awareness and referral arrangements
  • NGO Programme Officers — plan, monitor and improve HIV prevention interventions

Skills and tools covered

HIV risk communicationTesting and counsellingCombination prevention planningStigma-free service deliveryReferral pathway designPrevention programme monitoring

Tools and standards

WHO Consolidated Guidelines on HIV Prevention, Testing, Treatment, Service Delivery and Monitoring, WHO 5 Cs for HIV Testing Services, UNAIDS 95-95-95 Targets, Plan-Do-Study-Act Cycle

How the course runs

Training methodology

Facilitators use short technical briefings to establish common terminology and current prevention principles. Participants examine public health, clinical, workplace and community cases; analyse referral gaps; practise structured counselling conversations; and work in groups on prevention service scenarios. Simulations address testing discussions, misinformation, disclosure concerns and urgent PEP referrals. Throughout the course, participants adapt templates and planning tools to their own client groups, local services and programme responsibilities.

Requirements and prerequisites

Participants should have basic experience in health, social care, community outreach, workplace wellness or programme delivery. They should be comfortable discussing sexual health, confidentiality and referral processes professionally. Familiarity with local health services or HIV policies is useful but not essential. The course does not require clinical prescribing authority, laboratory training, prior HIV counselling certification, epidemiology qualifications or advanced statistical knowledge. Participants should bring awareness of their own service context and the client groups they support.

A typical training day

08:30 – 10:30First session
10:30 – 10:45Refreshment break
10:45 – 12:30Second session
12:30 – 13:30Lunch and networking
13:30 – 15:00Third session
15:00 – 15:15Refreshment break
15:15 – 16:30Workshop and daily review

Live online deliveries follow the same structure in East Africa Time, with shorter screen blocks and longer breaks.

What the fee includes

  • Instruction by a practitioner facilitator
  • Full course workbook and materials
  • Exercise files, templates and case studies
  • Refreshments and lunch on classroom deliveries
  • Certificate of completion
  • Post-course application plan

Frequently asked questions

Participants should have basic experience in health, social care, outreach, wellness or programme roles. No clinical prescribing authority, laboratory qualification or previous HIV counselling certificate is required.

Bring details of the client groups, referral services and HIV prevention challenges relevant to your work. If permitted by your employer, participants may also bring anonymised service procedures or awareness materials for review.

It is designed for public health staff, nurses, community workers, social workers, NGO personnel and workplace health managers. The content is particularly useful for professionals who discuss prevention, testing, referral or treatment support with clients.

This course focuses on prevention, awareness, communication, testing support, referral and programme delivery. It explains treatment and viral suppression sufficiently for accurate counselling, but it does not train participants to prescribe antiretroviral medicines or manage complex clinical cases.

Participants can improve prevention messages, test referral processes, counselling conversations and confidentiality controls. They leave with templates for planning a local response, mapping service pathways and monitoring prevention activity.

The five days run from 08:30 to 16:30 and provide approximately 6.5 contact hours each day. Time is divided between technical instruction, cases, communication simulations, group planning and preparation of workplace application actions.

Questions about this course?

Ask about dates, fees, group bookings or running it for your team. Our training team replies by email.

Ask on WhatsApp info@skillsetdevelopment.com

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