Education programme reduces STDs in African-American girls
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《英国医生杂志》
Education programmes designed to promote self esteem in African-American teenage girls improved their behaviour towards avoiding HIV infection and showed some reduction in sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), a study has shown ( JAMA 2004;292: 171-9).
The study randomised 522 sexually experienced African-American girls aged 14 to 18 years to two groups. The intervention group (n=251) attended sessions designed to promote self esteem, as well as providing information about HIV, skills in communication, condom use, and how to have healthy relationships.
The first session focused on promoting ethnic and gender pride, without even mentioning HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, or sex. The slogan for the programme was: Be safe for yourself, your family, and your community." The comparison group (n=271) was given information on exercise and nutrition. All participants received four group training sessions each lasting four hours.
Reporting the findings at a briefing during the AIDS conference this week, Ralph DiClemente, professor of public health at the Rollins School of Public Health and Center for AIDS Research, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, warned: Adolescents are rapidly emerging as a population at high risk of HIV infection. African-American teenage girls are a subgroup at particularly high risk, but previous interventions designed for this population have failed to reduce behaviours associated with HIV risk. We wanted to instil a sense of pride in the teenagers attending—let them know that they are important."
Results at six months showed that the girls attending the HIV education programme showed higher self reported consistent use of condoms—that is, using a condom during every episode of vaginal intercourse—in the previous 30 days than the comparison group (75% v 58%). A greater proportion also reported consistent use after 12 months' follow up (73% v 57%).
Consistent condom use was also higher over the entire 12 month period (adjusted odds ratio, 2.01; 95% confidence interval 1.28 to 3.17; P=0.003). Professor DiClemente added: Participants in the HIV intervention were also more likely to report using a condom the last time they had vaginal sexual intercourse."
Girls attending the HIV education programme showed a trend to reduced self reported pregnancy (3.6% v 7.0% at six months; P=0.04) and laboratory confirmed chlamydia.(Susan Mayor)
The study randomised 522 sexually experienced African-American girls aged 14 to 18 years to two groups. The intervention group (n=251) attended sessions designed to promote self esteem, as well as providing information about HIV, skills in communication, condom use, and how to have healthy relationships.
The first session focused on promoting ethnic and gender pride, without even mentioning HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, or sex. The slogan for the programme was: Be safe for yourself, your family, and your community." The comparison group (n=271) was given information on exercise and nutrition. All participants received four group training sessions each lasting four hours.
Reporting the findings at a briefing during the AIDS conference this week, Ralph DiClemente, professor of public health at the Rollins School of Public Health and Center for AIDS Research, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, warned: Adolescents are rapidly emerging as a population at high risk of HIV infection. African-American teenage girls are a subgroup at particularly high risk, but previous interventions designed for this population have failed to reduce behaviours associated with HIV risk. We wanted to instil a sense of pride in the teenagers attending—let them know that they are important."
Results at six months showed that the girls attending the HIV education programme showed higher self reported consistent use of condoms—that is, using a condom during every episode of vaginal intercourse—in the previous 30 days than the comparison group (75% v 58%). A greater proportion also reported consistent use after 12 months' follow up (73% v 57%).
Consistent condom use was also higher over the entire 12 month period (adjusted odds ratio, 2.01; 95% confidence interval 1.28 to 3.17; P=0.003). Professor DiClemente added: Participants in the HIV intervention were also more likely to report using a condom the last time they had vaginal sexual intercourse."
Girls attending the HIV education programme showed a trend to reduced self reported pregnancy (3.6% v 7.0% at six months; P=0.04) and laboratory confirmed chlamydia.(Susan Mayor)