Gender-focused HIV and pregnancy prevention for school-going adolescents: TheMpondombilipilot intervention in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (original) (raw)

2016, Journal of HIV/AIDS & Social Services

This pilot study evaluated a 15 session classroom intervention for HIV and pregnancy prevention among grade 8-10 boys and girls (ages 14-17) in rural South Africa, guided by genderempowerment theory and implemented by teachers, nurses, and youth peer educators. Pre-and post-intervention surveys included 933 male and female students in two intervention and two comparison schools. Main outcome: condom use at last sex; secondary outcomes: partner communication; gender beliefs and values; perceived peer behaviors; self-efficacy for safer sex. At five months post-intervention, change in condom use did not differ between intervention and comparison schools. Intervention school youth had greater increases in self-efficacy for unsafe sex refusal [OR=1.61; 95% CI=1.01, 2.57] and condom use [OR=1.76; 95% CI=1.07, 2.89], partner communication [OR=2.42; 95% CI=1.27, 4.23], and knowledge of HIV testing opportunities [OR=1.76; 95% CI=1.08, 2.87]. This gender-focused pilot intervention increased adolescents' self-efficacy and partner communication, and has potential to improve preventive behaviors.

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