Although many program planners see schools as a convenient location for HIV prevention programs, there is controversy about whether school programs can ever be strong enough to go beyond improving knowledge and attitudes to increasing the adoption of safe sexual behaviors. Evaluations of school programs in Mexico, South Africa, and Thailand focus on this question: Can school HIV programs change behavior? In each country, local organizations have worked with educators on teacher training and course design to ensure high-quality school interventions.

On 16 September 2001, the Swaziland government announced a five-year sex ban for young women in an attempt to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS. This means that during the five-year period, young women will have to observe a five-year prohibition on sex which includes no shaking of hands with males, no wearing of pants and in addition, young women will have to wear woolen tassels (symbolizing their untouchability) wherever they go for the next five years. The age group targeted has not been clearly stated, but women who are in relationships and older than 19 years will be expected to wear red and black tassels, and those still virgins will wear blue with yellow. This new intervention will be policed by traditional chiefs who still rule over much of Swazi society. Anyone who fails to observe the rules would be fined 1,300 Emalangeni (about $152) or one cow.