Objective: The substantial prevalence of HIV in Africa underscores the urgent need for effective HIV prevention programs. This paper reports the results of an effectiveness trial for the I Choose Life-Africa (ICL) HIV prevention program carried out among Kenyan university students.Methods: Longitudinal data was analyzed from182 student volunteers, randomized to an intervention or control group. The intervention group received training as HIV prevention peer educators with a 32 hour theoretically based curriculum. All students were given a pretest survey assessing HIV related attitudes, intentions, knowledge and behaviors and repeated the survey 3 times over the next 6 months. Data was analyzed using Linear Mixed Models (LMM) or Generalized Linear Models (GLM) to compare the rate of change on 13 dependent variables that examined sexual risk behavior (broadly defined). Monitoring data on the types of HIV prevention messages delivered by the peer educators was obtained.Results: Based on multi level models, the slope coefficients for 4 variables showed small but reliable change in the hoped for direction: abstinence from oral, vaginal, or anal sex in the last two months, condom attitudes, HIV testing, and refusal skill. The intervention demonstrated evidence of non-zero slope coefficients in the hoped for direction on 12 of 13 dependent variables. Trained peer educators delivered HIV prevention messages in a one- to- one format 1,862 times and reached 1,819 students through small group sessions. Messages were delivered at larger group thematic sessions that were attended by a total of 5,970 persons. Condom distribution projects resulted in 3,742 male and 796 female condoms being distributed, and 268 individuals were referred for HIV testing.Conclusion: The ICL peer education training appears effective in reducing sexual risk behavior and training students to promote HIV prevention messages.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:arizona.edu/oai:arizona.openrepository.com:10150/194197 |
| Date | January 2009 |
| Creators | Adam, Mary Beth |
| Contributors | Sechrest, Lee, Sechrest, Lee, Bootzin, Richard, Davis, Mende, Figueredo, Aurelio J, Mehl, Matthias |
| Publisher | The University of Arizona. |
| Source Sets | University of Arizona |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text, Electronic Dissertation |
| Rights | Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. |
Page generated in 0.0027 seconds