AEGiS-06IAC: HIV education program involving presentors with AIDS demonstrates significant impact on adolescents.

6th International AIDS Conference


San Francisco, California, USA — June 20-23, 1990

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HIV education program involving presentors with AIDS demonstrates significant impact on adolescents.

Int Conf AIDS 1990 Jun 20-23; 6:338 (abstract no. Th.D.850)
Evans NL, Fetro J; Department of Public Health, San Francisco, California, USA

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of an adolescent HIV education program in promoting changes in sexual activity (abstinence) and condom use.

METHOD: Two cross sectional surveys were administered to 565 adolescents in San Francisco participating in the Wedge Program. This 4 hour comprehensive HIV education program addresses facts, attitudes, feelings and includes a presentation by a person with HIV. Information on sexual activity and use of condoms was obtained. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences Program. Significance was determined by the chi-square test.

RESULTS: Posttest respondents were slightly less likely to be sexually active (45%/pretest vs. 39%/posttest), although the difference was not significant. However, among teenagers who did intend to engage in sex in the next month, posttest respondents were significantly more likely to report they'd probably or definitely use a condom (79%/pretest vs. 90%/posttest, p less than .001). In open-ended questions at posttest, 58% of adolescents claimed they planned to make changes as a result of the program, particularly after meeting the person with HIV.

CONCLUSIONS: Based on this study, teenagers participating in the Wedge Program were not less likely to engage in sexual activity but were significantly more likely to use condoms if they planned to be sexually active. The session with the person with HIV had the most impact on them.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Condoms, HIV Infections, Health Education, Sex Education, Patient Education, Curriculum, Cross-Sectional Studies, San Francisco, Adolescence, education, ICA6KWDaegis,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,condoms,hivinfections,healtheducation,sexeducation,patienteducation,curriculum,cross-sectionalstudies,sanfrancisco,adolescence,education,ica6

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ThD850

Copyright © 1990 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.