An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a Peer Sexual Health Intervention Among Secondary-School Students In Zambia

Abstract

This study investigated whether there were any changes in knowledge and normative beliefs regarding abstinence and condoms and personal risk perception of acquiring HIV among Zambian secondary-school students who were exposed to a peer sexual health intervention. Schools were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. A baseline assessment that measured knowledge, normative beliefs about abstinence and condoms and personal risk perception was conducted in all schools. Students in the intervention group were exposed for a 1-hour-and-45-minute-long in-class peer sexual health intervention. Students in the control schools were exposed to a 1-hour-long in-class peer water purification intervention. A follow-up assessment of students was conducted after the intervention. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine whether significant differences between intervention and control groups emerged at follow-up. Relative to students in the control group, knowledge was higher and normative beliefs about abstinence and condoms were significantly more positive among students in the intervention schools. Students in the intervention schools also had a higher personal risk perception of acquiring HIV than students in control schools. These findings show that a school-based peer sexual health intervention implemented in Zambia was effective in increasing knowledge, positive normative beliefs about abstinence and condoms, and personal risk perception.

Health care seeking behavior of adolescents: Comparative study of two service delivery models

“…15 Other studies have also reported successful implementation of various adolescent health education approaches including peer education approach. [17][18] CONCLUSION During adolescence psycho-social problems are more common than medical problems and adolescents utilize school-based clinic more often than the dispensary based clinic particularly for seeking help for resolving the psychosocial problems, therefore, adolescent health services should be linked to the school health services and counselling should be an integral part of these services.…”

Girls’ schooling in Tanzania: the key to HIV/AIDS prevention?

“…Whether it takes place in school or out of school, training should go beyond general health education to combine knowledge of HIV prevention with skills for negotiating safe sexual behaviour that are sensitive to the local social context (Baker et al, 2003;Exner et al, 1997). This might take the form of peer educators in rural communities who impart relevant and accurate HIV/AIDS knowledge in after-school programmes, or it might consist of teachers and other professionals engaging young women in problem-solving, relational skill-building, and role-playing activities that are tailored to fit the realities of their lives (Agha, 2002;Albarracín et al, 2003;Miller et al, 2000;Perez & Dabis, 2003). The use of interactive methods alongside the transmission of knowledge about HIV/AIDS appears to be an essential element in the most effective 'vaccines' for women.…”

An Outcome Assessment of an ABC-Based HIV Peer Education Intervention Among Kenyan University Students

“…Defined as training persons from a specific target group to educate their peers (Harrison, Smit, & Myer, 2000;Warwick & Aggleton, 2004), peer education has attained almost global acceptance as a means of influencing health behaviors of youth, especially behaviors related to sexuality (Turner & Shepherd, 1999; for examples of African applications see Agha, 2002;Institut de Recherche, 2002;Skinner & Metcalf, 1991;Wolf, Tawfik, & Bond, 2000). Theoretically, the approach most frequently is tied to social learning theory (Bandura, 1977).…”