title: The effects of peer education on STD and AIDS knowledge among prisoners in Mozambique.
abstract: The study was designed to evaluate the impact of education on AIDS knowledge among prison inmates in Maputo, Mozambique. A 6-month follow-up study was carried out in 1993 among 300 prisoners. A knowledge, attitudes, and practices questionnaire regarding AIDS and STD was administered to each subject as part of the intake medical examination and after an educational intervention provided by 30 prisoner 'activists'. A large proportion of prisoners had high risk behaviours (65% had 2 or more sexual partners per month and 39% had a history of STD) and low AIDS knowledge at incarceration. Statistically significant increases in knowledge occurred after the intervention. Prisoners with less formal education had a poorer performance on the initial questionnaire (43% vs 69% P < 0.00001) and had a greater improvement after the intervention (41% vs 24%, P < 0.00001). The results demonstrate that educational interventions involving peer health educators contribute positively to the acquisition of knowledge among prisoners.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Health, Ministry of Health, Maputo, Mozambique,
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Vaz
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gloyd
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Trindade
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004522:Educational Status; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009073:Mozambique; D010379:Peer Group; D011329:Prisoners / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires