Effectiveness of a Sexual Risk Behaviors Prevention Program among Early Adolescent Thai Muslim Girls: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

Sexual risk behaviors among Muslim girls differ from those of others due to their unique cultural and lifestyle factors, including early marriages, high rates of young motherhood, some sexually transmitted diseases, and limited educational opportunities. This quasi-experimental study aimed to test the effectiveness of the Sexual Risk Behaviors Prevention Program on self-efficacy for safe sexual behaviors and sexual intimate behaviors in early adolescent Thai Muslim girls. Forty-eight girls in grades 4-6 were recruited, and their mothers or legal guardians were involved in the program. The participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 23) receiving the Program and a control group (n = 24) receiving only routine sex education. Data were collected from June-November 2023 using questionnaires of Self-efficacy for Safe Sexual Behaviors and Sexual Intimate Behaviors. Data were analyzed using independent t-test and one-way repeated measures ANOVA. The results indicated that the mean self-efficacy score in the experimental group was higher than that of the control group at immediate, 12-, and 24-week follow-ups. Sexual intimate behaviors in the experimental group were lower than in the control group at 12- and 24-weeks. The results indicated that this program is useful for preventing sexual risk behaviors in early adolescent Thai Muslim girls. It could be applied to encourage Thai Muslim girls to be safe from sexual risk behaviors. However, further testing in various settings with other samples is needed before it can be widely used.