AEGiS-06IAC: Short-term impacts of student-designed AIDS prevention promotional activities in a school setting.

6th International AIDS Conference


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

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Short-term impacts of student-designed AIDS prevention promotional activities in a school setting.

Int Conf AIDS 1990 Jun 20-23; 6:341 (abstract no. Th.D.860)
Thomas R, Otis J, Longpre D, Provencher S, Bastien R, Lonergan G; Departement de sante communautaire de l'Hopital Charles LeMoyne, Greenfield Park, Quebec, Canada

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate short-term impacts of diverse AIDS prevention promotional activities. Designed by students and aimed at their peers, these interventions were held in the school setting, on "WORLD AIDS DAY" (December 1, 1989).

METHODS: A week after the activities were held, we asked a random sample of 481 boys and 666 girls (mean age: 15,5), attending 15 secondary schools on Montreal's south shore, to complete a questionnaire measuring: 1) degree of exposure to the messages; 2) attitude towards the activities; 3) comprehension of the messages; 4) perception of having gained awareness and knowledge; 5) motivation to use condoms.

RESULTS: 89,9% of responders mention being aware of the activities that were held. Participation rate in at least one school activity was 49,4%; 2,7% of the students personally contributed in the development and presentation of the activities. 47,7% of the exposed responders mention reacting favorably to the activities. However, 45% of them cannot clearly report the nature of the main message. 27,7% understood that they were asked to increase self-protection and 8,9% that they should use condoms. Following these interventions, 74% of the students report being more aware of the importance of the problem; 72,7% report having gained significant knowledge, mostly on modes of transmission and ways to protect themselves and 84% report increased intention to use condoms.

CONCLUSION: We believe that interventions based on students' personal implication are an efficient way to increase their awareness about AIDS prevention. Further analysis will enable us to link certain characteristics of the activities to their perceived effects among the target population.

Keywords: AEGIS, Students, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Schools, Condoms, Questionnaires, Awareness, Motivation, Male, Female, prevention & control, ICA6KWDaegis,students,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,schools,condoms,questionnaires,awareness,motivation,male,female,prevention&control,ica6

900620
ThD860

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