title: Effective peer education in HIV: defining factors that maximise success.
abstract: Background Peer education is considered an effective health promotion and education strategy, particularly to populations traditionally resistant to conventional forms of health information dissemination. This has made it very applicable to HIV education and prevention, where those who are affected or at risk are often amongst the most vulnerable in society. However, there still remains uncertainty as to the reasons for its effectiveness, what constitutes an effective methodology and why a consistent methodology can often result in widely variable outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2008 and 2010, three separate reviews of peer education were undertaken across more than 30 countries in three distinct geographical regions across the globe. The reviews sought to identify determinants of the strengths and weaknesses inherent in approaches to peer education, particularly targeting young people and the most at-risk populations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  By assessing the implementation of peer education programs across a variety of social environments, it was possible to develop a contextual understanding for peer education's effectiveness and provide a picture of the social, cultural, political, legal and geographic enablers and disablers to effective peer education. Several factors were significant contributors to program success, not as strategies of methodology, but as elements of the social, cultural, political and organisational context in which peer education was situated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Contextual elements create environments supportive of peer education. Consequently, adherence to a methodology or strategy without proper regard to its situational context rarely contributes to effective peer education.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Steven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Debattista
authors.forename: Aleksandar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bodiroza
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Shaun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Staunton
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D006266:Health Education; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D010379:Peer Group; D012931:Social Environment