Preliminary evidence of an adolescent HIV/AIDS peer education program.
Adolescent peer education has been found to be an effective method to improve adolescents' knowledge and positive health behaviors. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which a peer education program was effective in changing adolescents' HIV/AIDS knowledge, risk behavior intentions, and confidence to engage in safe sex. The results showed that there was a significant difference in HIV knowledge between the peer education group and the traditionally educated group, with the peer group demonstrating greater knowledge. There was no significant difference in confidence to engage in safe sex between the two groups, but students in the intervention group were more likely to engage in safe sex than students in the traditionally educated group. Nurses can provide leadership in the development, implementation, and evaluation of peer education in adolescent health.
Mahat
Ganga
G
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, College of Nursing, Newark, NJ 07102, USA. gmahat@rutgers.edu
Scoloveno
Mary Ann
MA
De Leon
Tara
T
Frenkel
Jessica
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D009515:New Jersey; D010379:Peer Group; D015397:Program Evaluation; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012309:Risk-Taking; D021841:Safe Sex / Q000523:psychology; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires