CMEC AIDS SURVEY - Policy - Qualifications of Professionals

Policy - Qualifications of Professionals

8.1.11 Policy - Qualifications of Professionals

Both systems were asked about their policies and guidelines on the training or qualifications required of the front-line professionals, teachers and public health nurses. A small minority of education and health ministries as well as school districts said that they have stipulated qualifications for teachers or public health nurses. About one-half of public health units said that they have established such minimum qualifications. The education respondents replied as follows to this question:

Figure 38

Have Required Qualifications for Sex Ed Teachers	Yes	No	In Part	Not Role
MOE-12	18.2	54.5	27.3	18.2
SD-14	21.4	56	22.6	0

School principals were asked if they ensured that these qualifications were present among their sexuality education teachers. School principals reported that they determined if all teachers had training or qualifications on this basis:

Regularly (46.1%)

Planned within the next 2 years (1.8%)

Once in last 3 years (12.7%)

Once in the last 4-10 years (6.2%)

Never (26.5%)

Don’t Know (7.3%).

Teachers’ responses to a question (T-I-10) asking about their qualifications indicate that:

31.7% had no pre-service education

16.4% had a presentation/seminar on sexuality as part of a health education course

19.3% had a sexuality segment as part of a health education course

43.9% had a major or minor in health/physical ed./family studies or guidance.

Public health respondents were asked if they had established guidelines for the qualifications of public health personnel working with HIV/sexuality. About one-quarter of health ministries and about one-half of public health units said that they have defined minimum qualifications for public health staff.

Figure 39

Have Re- quired Qualifica- tions for PHN re Sexuality	Planned	Regularly	Once in last 3 yrs.	Once in last 4-10 yrs.	Never	Not role	Don’t Know	No Response
MOH - 15g	0.0	25.0	0.0	0.0	25.0	33.3	16.7	0.0
PHU - 11f	0.0	49.1	2.8	2.8	32.6	7.2	3.4	7.1

Public health respondents were also asked if they had funded, supported or developed criteria for professional development of public health personnel working with youth or schools. About 40% of health respondents at both levels said that they do so regularly.

Figure 40

Have Required Qualifications for PHN re Youth	Planned	Regularly	Once in last 3 yrs.	Once in last 4-10 yrs.	Never	Not role	Don’t Know	No Response
MOH - 15h	0.0	41.7	0.0	0.0	16.7	25.0	16.7	0.0
PHU - 11g	2.3	43.6	7.2	8.9	25.1	3.4	6.2	3.3

Health ministries were also asked if they have funded or supported the development of certificates or additional courses for public health staff working with schools or youth. About one-quarter of health ministry officials said that they do this regularly.

Figure 41

Support Additional Qualifications/ Education for PHN’s	Planned within 2 yrs.	Regularly	Once in last 3 yrs.	Once in last 4-10 yrs.	Never	Not Role	Don’t Know
MOH-15i	0	25	8.3	8.3	41.7	8.3	8.4

Public health nurses reported (PHN-7) that they have the qualifications that relate to work with schools and youth.

Figure 42

PHN Qualifications	In Youth Health Promotion	In Sexuality	In Nursing	In Child/Youth Health	In Other
Degree in	4.2	1.2	88.3	0.6	5.8
Major/Minor in	8.1	2.1	10.2	6.4	8.2
At least one course in	39.2	39.6	10.1	35.5	14

Public health nurses also reported (PHN-6) that they have the following number of years experience in:

a) health promotion/prevention 13.4

b) youth related health promotion/prevention 10.6

c) sexual health promotion including HIV 9.3

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