Barcelona 2013
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| Abstract #420 - Educational Challenges | ||||
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Session: 35.3: Educational Challenges (Parallel) on Tuesday @ 14.30-16.00 in Auditorium Chaired by Authors: Presenting Author: Dr. Michele Ybarra - Center for Innovative Public Heatlh Research, United States |
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| Additional Authors: | ||||
| Aim: Estimates suggest that if the current HIV infection rates remain stable in South Africa, 50% of 15-year-olds alive today will die from AIDS. The need to develop effective, scalable HIV programs for South African adolescents cannot be overstated. Programs are only as impactful as they are interesting and engaging to youth, however. Needs assessments are critical in this regard so that researchers can understand the type of information youth are currently receiving and the kinds of topics that they would find compelling. | ||||
| Method / Issue: In 2012, 1,107 10th ? 11th graders completed a paper-and-pencil survey. Respondents were enrolled in one of three public high schools located in lower income neighborhoods in Cape Town. Youth answered questions about experiences and exposures related to sex and HIV; and about opportunities for HIV prevention programming that might be particularly salient and interesting for youth. | ||||
| Results / Comments: Respondents were on average, 17.6 years of age (SD: 1.3, Range: 16-24). Fifty-nine percent were female, and 96% were Black. About one in four (28%) described their family income as lower than average, and half (52%), as similar to average. Forty-four percent of respondents? fathers had completed secondary school or less (equivalent to a high school education in the U.S). HIV testing was common: three in five youth (62%) had ever been tested. Half (51%) had ever had vaginal sex and one in seven (15%) had ever had anal sex. Among youth who had had sex, 23% never and 46% always used condom. Most youth reported their parents had talked to them about pregnancy (60%) and HIV (64%) prevention. School also was a common source for both topics (77% and 76%, respectively). Perhaps accordingly, one in three youth (36%) somewhat or strongly agreed that they were tired of hearing about how to prevent HIV/AIDS and other STIs. Few expressed interest in learning: how to use a condom (40%), about birth control (29%), and how to ?refuse sex? (40%). Even topics posited to be of interest to adolescents (e.g., how to develop a relationship; how to break up with someone) were endorsed by less than half of youth. | ||||
| Discussion: These data paint a clear picture of the challenge for HIV prevention researchers: it is not uncommon for youth to be tired of hearing messages about HIV prevention and many of the typical topics key to HIV prevention have low interest levels among youth. At the same time, the current study suggests reasons for optimism: HIV testing is common, a high percentage of sexually active youth report consistent condom use, and many parents are talking to their children about how to keep themselves safe. HIV prevention researchers need to be mindful of the extent of existing programming that youth are exposed to ? even if it is not accurate, the messages can begin to sound like ?yet another talk about HIV?. It is absolutely critical that evidence-based programs be engaging and interactive so that young people can hear even the same messages in a new way. | ||||
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