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AIDS Prevention for Adolescents in Schools

An Evidence-Based Practice

This practice has been Archived and is no longer maintained.

Description

The goal of AIDS Prevention for Adolescents in Schools was to improve knowledge and beliefs about AIDS and develop self-efficacy related to AIDS-preventive actions among students.

Prior to delivery of the intervention, research staff trained regular classroom teachers how to implement the curriculum during an eight hour training session. The curriculum was delivered to ninth- and 11th-grade students in six one hour class periods. The first two sessions focused on teaching students the correct facts about AIDS transmission and prevention, how to accurately appraise their risk of getting AIDS depending on their behaviors, and where to access appropriate AIDS-preventive resources within the school and local community.

The middle two sessions concentrated on correcting students’ misperceptions regarding how often their peers participated in AIDS risk behaviors, helping students clarify their personal values about engaging in intercourse, and using role play to teach students how to delay the initiation of intercourse. The final two sessions used role play to teach negotiation skills necessary to maintain consistent condom use and taught students the knowledge and skills necessary to obtain condoms and use them correctly.

Goal / Mission

The goal of AIDS Prevention for Adolescents in Schools was to use a teacher-delivered curriculum to improve knowledge and beliefs about AIDS, and develop self-efficacy related to AIDS-preventive actions among students.

Results / Accomplishments

Data was collected from the intervention and comparison groups at baseline and again at a three month follow-up. Significant improvements were seen in the intervention group when compared to the comparison group in knowledge about AIDS (p<0.0001), beliefs about the benefits of AIDS prevention (p<0.0001), beliefs about various norms regarding AIDS preventive behaviors and peer actions (p<0.003), and self-efficacy about the ability to perform AIDS-preventive actions (p<0.03).

About this Promising Practice

Primary Contact
Heather Walter
850 Harrison Avenue
Dowling 1, Room 1205
Boston, MA 02118
(617) 414-7504
http://www.urban.org/pdfs/TeenRiskTaking_2.pdf
Topics
Health / Immunizations & Infectious Diseases
Health / Adolescent Health
Health / Prevention & Safety
Source
Urban Institute
Date of publication
1993
Date of implementation
1990
Geographic Type
Urban
Location
New York City, NY
For more details
Target Audience
Teens
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