Peer education in HIV prevention: an evaluation in schools

BACKGROUND: In recent years a number of publications have come out about the peer education method used as a tool in HIV prevention for young people. Our survey aimed at testing the effectiveness of the peer education method in HIV prevention in high school settings through a pilot intervention. METHODS: A peer education intervention took place in 10 high schools in Athens over a 1 year period. A cohort of 702 students was surveyed (n = 493 intervention group, n = 209 control group) from 13 high schools through anonymous questionnaires based on the KABPs model, pre- and post-intervention. The statistical package used was SPSS using the chi(2)-test. RESULTS: Compared with control students, the intervention students were slightly empowered: (i) to increase their personal responsibility; and (ii) to adopt a safer behaviour in sexual practice. Knowledge did not show any significant modification between the two groups. However, discrimination about certain groups of people, the attitude about condoms and initiation of sexual relations did not appear to be influenced. CONCLUSIONS: The peer education approach can influence the behaviour of young people regarding their personal protection from HIV infection. In order to test its effectiveness, peer education should be further evaluated as a health education method in HIV prevention in high schools, other youth settings and community interventions, where the aim is behavioural change.     

Assessing the effectiveness of HIV prevention peer education workshops for gay men in community settings

Objective : To use existing evaluation data of community‐based HIV prevention peer education workshops (PEWs) for gay men to explore the challenges in evaluating such programs in community settings. Methods : Data came from 33 PEWs conducted with gay and bisexual men. A basic pre/post‐test design was used to measure sexual health capacity. The Sexual Health Capacity Scale (SHCS) was anonymously completed before participation and twice afterward, with the men measuring perceptions of themselves before participation and perceptions of themselves after participation. The anonymous nature of the SHCS created problems for matching data so, for the most part, independent samples tests were used for analysis. Results : Overall, 399 gay and bisexual men participated in PEWs. Participants perceived themselves as having more sexual health capacity after participation than before (p<0.001). Those who had previously been HIV tested before the PEW had higher perceived capacity (p<0.001). Conclusions and Implications : Participation in the PEWs appeared to increase the perceived sexual health capacity of gay and bisexual male participants. Several limitations in the data arose from issues in the original data collection. A mixture of anonymous and identifiable data‐sources meant that data could not always be matched to individuals. Stronger partnerships between HIV researchers and professionals within community organisations could significantly improve evaluation of the effectiveness of HIV peer education.     

预防艾滋病同伴教育对学生家长影响

目的评价在中小学中开展“童心红丝带”预防艾滋病同伴教育项目对家长知识和态度的影响。方法2005年11～12月对5个项目省市的312名项目学校学生家长和358名非项目学校学生家长进行问卷调查。结果项目学校家长艾滋病知识总知晓率（78.75%）高于非项目学校（74.71%）,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.01）。艾滋病相关态度、家长与孩子的交流情况,项目学校与非项目学校比较差异均无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。65.1%的家长选择在学校开设正规课程作为孩子接受预防艾滋病教育的途径,选择同伴教育的家长比例仅为16.1%,排第8位。结论同伴教育活动在一定程度上提高了家长相关知识水平,但对家庭和社区的辐射作用还没有充分体现出来,需要进一步得到家长更广泛的接受和认可。     

孕期预防艾滋病母婴传播健康教育研究现状

预防艾滋病母婴传播是减少和避免儿童感染艾滋病病毒的重要措施.在孕期开展预防艾滋病母婴传播健康教育,是预防艾滋病母婴传播的重要干预活动之一.通过预防艾滋病母婴传播健康教育,提高孕妇艾滋病知识水平,改善孕妇对其他预防艾滋病母婴传播措施的接受和利用程度.孕妇接受孕期预防艾滋病母婴传播健康教育后,预防艾滋病母婴传播知识知晓率有明显提高,孕期人类免疫缺陷病毒抗体检测率、检测前咨询率、检测后咨询率也均有提高.     

艾滋病预防青年同伴教育项目

介绍了云南省红十字会和澳大利亚红十字会合作开展的艾滋病预防青年同伴教育项目的几个阶段，并着重介绍了项目的拓展阶段：即与不同的国际、国内组织共同合作或单独开展艾滋病预防项目的情况及成就。     

Civil society organisations' roles in health development in Vietnam: HIV as a case study

Civil society in contemporary Vietnam has been recognised as an important force in public health. Based on qualitative interviews and observations of 30 organisations and networks in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, this paper argues that civil society organisations (CSOs) focus almost exclusively on providing information and services, including care and treatment, in line with a state-sanctioned ‘implementer’ role for civil society, and that these organisations therefore miss an opportunity to act as agents for change. It was observed that the CSOs taking on roles involving advocacy and the monitoring of policy implementation were those that focus exclusively on HIV/AIDS prevention and control. However, the sustainability of these efforts is unclear.     

Peer education: a strategy for improving health education in disadvantaged areas in Belfast

The paper reports on the initial phase of an evaluation of a multi-agency project designed to deliver social andhealth education to 16–18-year-old trainees attending four community workshops in North and West Belfast. A survey of the first year of the project was carried out using quantitative and qualitative methodologies which included a questionnaire survey of those trainees attending the programme and structured interviews with a representative sample of trainees. The first stage of the research involved a baseline measure (time 0) which provided valuable insights into the behaviours, attitudes and values of the trainees regarding a range of health issues, including smoking and alcohol behaviours, and substance abuse. Some changes in behaviour, during the first year of the project, were noted, such as reported reductions in substance abuse and increased awareness of sources of advice relating to health issues.     

AIDS prevention for women at risk: Experience from a national demonstration research program

This paper discusses data from a national research program working with large numbers of women at risk for HIV. Important similarities between injection drug using (IDU) women and the non-injecting partners of IDU men have been shown. High levels of non-injection drug use are common to both groups, as is crack use and the trading of sex for crack. Despite considerable knowledge about AIDS, risky sex and drug injection behaviors are the rule. A number of important principles for outreach and intervention with women have also emerged, including the need for simultaneously aggressive and sensitive out-reach strategies and for interventions that take into account the full context of these women's lives.Principal Investigators and Members of the Consortium who contributed to the data contained in this article: Marcia Andersen, Ph.D.; Robert Baxter, M. Ed.; Sandra Baxter; George Beschner, M. S. W.; Patrick Biernacki, Ph.D.; Stanley Broadnax, M.D.; Vivian Brown, Ph.D.; Larry DeNeal, Ph.D.; Sherry Deren, Ph.D.; Antonio Estrada, Ph.D.; David Fleming, M. D.; Samuel Friedman, Ph.D.; Sena Gates; Peggy Glider, Ph.D.; Ted Hammett, Ph.D.; Dana Hunt, Ph.D.; Lynne Kotranski, Ph.D.; Clyde McCoy, Ph.D.; Josette Mondanaro, M.D.; Harvey Musikoff, Ph.D.; Richard Needle, Ph.D.; Fen Rhodes, Ph.D.; Rafaela Robles, Ed.D.; Roy Ross; Bruce Rounsaville, M.D.; Jean Schensul, Ph.D.; Vernon Shorty; Harvey Siegal, Ph.D.; Merrill Singer, Ph.D.; Frederick Snyder, Ph.D.; Barbara Sowder, Ph.D.; Richard Stephens, Ph.D.; Sally Stevens, Ph.D.; Kenneth Vogtsberger, M.D.; Judith Walton; Deena Watson, M. S.; Wayne Wiebel, Ph.D.; Mark Williams, Ph.D.; Robert Wood, M.D.     

Behavioral interventions for the primary prevention of HIV infection among homosexual and bisexual men

Behavioral intervention is the most urgent priority in preventing the further spread of HIV. To maximize the efficacy of AIDS prevention and to most efficiently allocate resources, it is imperative that variables contributing to preventive behavior change be accurately identified, and interventions be critical evaluated prior to widespread dissemination. We review studies regarding homosexual/bisexual men in terms of: 1) epidemiological trends in HIV transmission; 2) models of behavior change organized around the initiation, consolidation, and maintenance of change, and; 3) preventive intervention outcomes. We conclude with recommendations for effective primary prevention programs.Peggy L. Peterson is affiliated with the School of Social Work, Social Development Research Group, University of Washington. Address correspondence and reprint requests to: 146 North Canal St., Suite 211, XD-50, Seattle, WA 98103.David G. Ostrow is affiliated with the University of Michigan.David J. McKirnan is affiliated with the University of Illinois at Chicago.     

Process assessment of a peer education programme for HIV prevention among sex workers in Dhaka, Bangladesh : a social support framework

This study evaluated the process of a peer education program for hotel-based sex workers in Dhaka, Bangladesh, with social support proposed as an organizing framework. Programme outcomes were examined through baseline and follow-up assessments. Sex workers naïve to peer education were assessed on socio-cognitive and behavioural variables; a subsample was reassessed at follow-up 23 weeks later on average. Process was assessed in terms of the content of peer education sessions. These sessions were recorded and coded into percentages of social support types provided by the peer educator to her audience: informational, instrumental, appraisal, emotional, companionship, non-support. Peer educators were classified into three “social support profiles” based on average proportions of emotional and informational support they provided. Seeing more peer educators with a high informational support profile was related to higher sex worker self-efficacy, self-reported STI symptoms, and self-reported condom use at follow-up; the same was true for the high emotional support profile and treatment seeking. Social support constituted a useful framework, but needs further exploration. This study provided a direct, in-depth examination of the process of peer education based on a comprehensive theoretical framework.