A replication study of Reducing the Risk, a theory-based sexuality curriculum for adolescents.
Reducing the Risk is a theory-based, sexuality education curriculum shown to influence the knowledge and behaviors of secondary students. This study determined whether the behavioral effects of the curriculum could be duplicated in a southern, rural state. In a quasiexperimental design, pretest and posttest inventories were administered to students in treatment and comparison groups to determine the influence of Reducing the Risk on sexual behaviors. Results of the 18-month study indicated students receiving the curriculum significantly delayed initiating sexual intercourse. Sexually active students in the treatment group were significantly more likely to protect themselves from STD/HIV and pregnancy than sexually active students in the comparison group. In addition, students receiving Reducing the Risk showed a significant increase in parent-child communication about sexual issues. These results reinforce previous research that found positive behavioral effects for students receiving the Reducing the Risk curriculum.
Dept. of Health Sciences, University of Central Arkansas, Conway 72035, USA.
B M
BM
Hubbard
M L
ML
Giese
J
J
Rainey
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D001131:Arkansas; D002648:Child; D003479:Curriculum; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D011247:Pregnancy; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012736:Sex Education / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires