YOUTH INITIATIVE PEER LED INTERVENTION -"COLLEGE YOUTH NETWORK" Our new initiative-involving youngsters to own a project of college awareness has brought WHARF into a new focus and limelight. Our surveys conducted by doctors, counselors, paramedics, social workers, etc amongst college students have revealed some interesting facts.

Survey Objective College students are effective indicators to assess knowledge levels amongst educated teenagers about ways of HIV transmission. This is a prelude to designing preventive and educative interventions targeted at the growing adult. Towards that end, we studied knowledge levels amongst junior college students of Mumbai about modes of spread of HIV. Methods 1179 consecutively consenting students in their first two years of college from the city and suburbs of the Greater Mumbai area were administered a questionnaire over a two year period. WHARF trainees, comprising doctors, nurses and counselors, administered the questionnaire. The responses were reviewed by the trainees as well as by WHARF faculty, compiled and statistically analysed.

Results
54.5% of those surveyed were female. While 95.8% of the sample was correct about HIV transmission through blood, only 89% were right about unprotected sex with an infected partner and 82% about sharing infected needles. The differences in the responses between male and female students were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Many misconceptions were noticed. A large number of those surveyed believed kissing (40%) hugging (29.7%) and sharing of clothes (25.4%) caused viral Transmission. Upto 25.4% were unaware of the safety of sharing toilets. A shocking 45.1% held mosquito bites to be a cause of transmission. Only 71.9% knew about vertical transmission and 61% about breast milk transmission. Female students performed worse than males in both these areas. Conclusion
There are misconceptions about modes of spread amongst Mumbai college students, with poor discrimination of high risk factors. Knowledge about vertical transmission is poor, more amongst women students who are future mothers. Health planning authorities would need to factor these findings in order to design and deliver interventions aimed at preparing teenagers to protect themselves as well as to grow up into adults with a balanced and non discriminatory attitude towards PWHA.
1. WHARF stands committed to support, promote and develop the quality of youth peer education initiatives in prevention of HIV/AIDS. The "College Youth Network" promotes the principle that young people should serve as a pillar in the prevention of infection by involving other colleges to conduct programs on sustainable basis.

2. In addition, WHARF views peer education as a methodology that can develop, strengthen and empower young people to take an active role in influencing policies and programs. While doing it recognizes, reflects upon and respects the social and cultural diversity of the youth of today.

3. Exchange of Information, experience, approach, and incentives not only lead to health promotion, but also, research, policy making, and evaluation of the projects through the youth initiative. A Peer Lead approach enables the capacities and skills of youth peer educators by co-ordinating information and skills development, involvement and empowerment through peer-to-peer exchange and solidarity.