Changes in HIV/AIDS/STI knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours among the youth in Port Loko, Sierra Leone.
Sierra Leone suffered from 11 years of civil war (1991-2002) resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and mutilations and massive population displacement. In 2001, ARC International, Sierra Leone, conducted a baseline survey of 244 female youth and 293 male youth on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours around HIV/AIDS and STIs in Port Loko. In 2003, following 2 years of HIV prevention activities, a comparable post-intervention survey of 250 female and 299 male youth was performed. Comparison of baseline and post-intervention results showed that HIV/AIDS knowledge increased dramatically among both groups, with those able to name three effective means of avoiding AIDS increasing from 4% to 36% among female youth, and 4% to 45% among male youth. Reported condom use at last sex increased among female youth from 16% to 46% and among male youth from 16% to 37%. These results demonstrate that, despite the challenges inherent in a post-conflict country, good quality AIDS prevention programmes can be successful.
Casey
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Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA. sec42@columbia.edu
Larsen
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McGinn
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Sartie
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Dauda
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Lahai
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D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000293:Adolescent; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012036:Refugees; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012807:Sierra Leone; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014857:Warfare; D055815:Young Adult