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      Addressing adolescents’ risk and protective factors related to risky behaviours: Findings from a school-based peer-education evaluation in the Western Cape

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          Abstract

          Background: Peer-education programmes aim to bring about attitudinal and behavioural changes in their target audience. In the South African educational context, peer education is a favoured approach in dealing with issues such as HIV and AIDS, sexual decision-making and substance misuse. Given the reliance on peer-education programmes in the educational system, it is important to establish how well they are working. This study aims to assess the effect of an extensive, structured, time-limited, curriculum-based, peer-led educational programme on first-year high school learners in public schools in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Method: The curriculum called ‘Listen Up’ addresses issues such as supporting peers, sexual decision-making, healthy relationships, HIV risk, alcohol misuse and unwanted pregnancy in seven structured sessions. The programme targeted adolescents in Grade 8 growing up in what are considered to be risky environments in public schools in the Western Cape during 2012 and 2013. The intervention was evaluated based on 10 scales sourced from published literature related to the outcome indicators of future orientation, sensation-seeking, self-efficacy in sexual relations, HIV transmission knowledge, HIV prevention knowledge, HIV attitudes, sexual attitudes, decision-making, healthy relationships and social support. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse demographic and community characteristics and analyses of variance were used to detect differences between groups. The surveys were administered to a total of 7709 learners across three waves of the study in 27 peer intervention schools and eight control schools. Results: Immediately post intervention, statistically significant differences were noted for the intervention schools when compared to their baseline levels on measures of future orientation, self-efficacy in sexual relations, knowledge regarding HIV transmission, knowledge regarding HIV prevention and knowledge in terms of healthy relationships. Comparing baseline values with results collected between five and seven months post intervention, statistically significant results were noted for self-efficacy in sexual relations and knowledge regarding HIV transmission. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that peer-education can improve adolescents’ self-efficacy in sexual relations as well as knowledge regarding the transmission of HIV and therefore can contribute to the prevention of HIV transmission among adolescents.

          Résumé

          Aperçu: Les programmes de l’éducation par les pairs visent à provoquer des changements comportementaux et d’attitudes chez le groupe cible. Dans un contexte d’éducation en Afrique du Sud, l’éducation par les pairs est une approche favorisée dans le fait de faire face aux questions telles que le VIH et SIDA, la prise de décision sexuelle et l’abus des substances. Étant donné la confiance dans les programmes d’éducation par les pairs inscrit dans un contexte du système d’éducation, il est important d’établir leur bonne marche. Cette étude vise à évaluer les effets d’un programme d’éducation extensif, stucturé, à durée limitée, axé sur un programme d’enseignement, mené par les pairs sur les élèves de classe de 6 ème (première classe de lycée) des établissements scolaires publics dans la Province du Western Cape en Afrique du Sud. Méthode: le Programme d’enseignement appelé ‘Listen Up’ traite des questions telles que l’appui par les pairs, prise de décision sexuelle, de relations saines, le risque du VIH, l’abus d’alcool et les grossesses indésirées dans les sept sessions structurées. Le Programme à pour cible des adolescents en classe de 4 ème (troisième classe du secondaire) qui vivent et grandissent dans des quartiers qualifiés d’environnements dangereux dans les établissements scolaires publics du Western cape entre 2012 et 2013. Des statistiques détaillées ont été utilisées pour faire l’analyse des caractéristiques démographiques et des communautés, les analyses de variance ont été utilisées pour déterminer les différences entre les groupes. L’intervention a été évaluée sur la base de dix échelles obtenues des documentations publiées relatives aux indicateurs de résultats sur les orientations futures, la recherche de sensation, l’auto efficacité dans les rapports sexuels, la connaissance de transmission de VIH, la connaissance de prévention de VIH, les attitudes de VIH, les attitudes sexuelles, les prises de décisions, les relations saines, et l’aide sociale. L’enquête a été conduite sur un total de 7.709 élèves à travers trois vagues d’études sur 27 interventions scolaires par les pairs et huit contrôles scolaires. Résultats: Les différences post intervention immédiates, statistiquement significatives ont été notées pour les établissements scolaires d’intervention lorsque comparées à leurs niveaux de base de référence sur les mesures de l’orientation future, autoéfficacité dans les rapports sexuels, l’auto efficacité dans les rapports sexuels, la connaissance de transmission de VIH, la connaissance de prévention de VIH et la connaissance en ce qui concerne des relations saines. En comparant les valeurs de base de référence aux résultats collectés entre cinq et sept mois, des résultats post intervention et statistiquement significatifs ont été notés pour , l’autoéfficacité dans les rapports sexuels, la connaissance de transmission de VIH. Conclusion: les conclusions de cette étude suggèrent que l’éducation par les pairs peut améliorer l’autoéfficacité dans les rapports sexuels, la connaissance de transmission de VIH chez les adolescents, et peut ainsi contribuer à la prévention de la transmission du VIH chez les adolescents.

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                Author and article information

                Journal
                SAHARA J
                SAHARA J
                RSAH
                rsah20
                SAHARA J : Journal of Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS Research Alliance
                Taylor & Francis
                1729-0376
                1813-4424
                2016
                28 November 2016
                : 13
                : 1
                : 197-207
                Affiliations
                [ a ] MA, is a Researcher in the Human and Social Development Unit, Human Sciences Research Council , Pretoria, South Africa
                [ b ] MA, is a Lecturer in the School of Built Environment and Development Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal , Durban, South Africa
                [ c ] PhD, is a Chief Specialist Scientist in the Health Systems Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council , Durban, South Africa
                [ d ] PhD, is an Honorary Associate Professor in the School of Applied Human Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal , Durban, South Africa
                [ e ] PhD, is a Senior Research Specialist in the Human and Social Development Unit, Human Sciences Research Council , Pretoria, South Africa
                [ f ] PhD, is an African Research Fellow in the Human and Social Development Unit, Human Sciences Research Council , Pretoria, South Africa
                [ g ] PhD, is a Research Director in the Human and Social Development Unit, Human Sciences Research Council , Pretoria, South Africa
                [ h ] PhD, is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology, University of Cape Town , Capetown, South Africa
                Author notes
                Article
                1241188
                10.1080/17290376.2016.1241188
                5349190
                27892820
                53347202-c8ef-4358-9a44-30b95e6f8f28
                © 2016 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

                This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

                History
                Page count
                Figures: 0, Tables: 7, Equations: 0, References: 48, Pages: 11
                Funding
                Funded by: Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria 10.13039/100004417
                Categories
                Article
                Original Articles

                high school,evaluation,high-risk behaviour,hiv prevention,peer education,south africa,lycée,évaluation,comportement à haut risque,prévention du vih,éducation par les pairs,afrique du sud

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