Taking be proud! Be responsible! To the suburbs: a replication study.
BACKGROUND
An important phase of HIV prevention research is replicating successful interventions with different groups and in different settings.


METHODS
Be Proud! Be Responsible!, a successful intervention originally targeting black urban males and carried out in nonschool settings, was presented in health classes at urban and suburban schools with diverse student bodies. A group-randomized intervention study, which included 1,357 ninth and 10th graders from 10 paired schools in a Midwestern metropolitan area, was conducted in 2000-2002. Half the schools received the intervention, and half received a general health promotion program. Students' reports of their sexual behavior and selected cognitive mediators were analyzed immediately following the programs and four and 12 months later.


RESULTS
Compared with students who received the control curriculum, students exposed to the intervention reported significantly greater knowledge of HIV, other STDs and condoms; greater confidence in their ability to control sexual impulses, to use condoms and to negotiate the use of condoms; and stronger intentions to use condoms. Stratified analyses revealed that the strongest intervention impacts were on knowledge and efficacy among males and students attending suburban schools. The intervention had no impact on sexual initiation, frequency of intercourse or condom use.


CONCLUSIONS
Schools are a logical and viable setting for the dissemination and acquisition of information about HIV, including prevention strategies. However, the behavioral impact of an intervention may not be easily transferable when the program is taught outside a carefully controlled, nonschool setting.
Borawski
Elaine A
EA
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA. elaine.borawski@case.edu
Trapl
Erika S
ES
Adams-Tufts
Kimberly
K
Hayman
Laura L
LL
Goodwin
Meredith A
MA
Lovegreen
Loren D
LD
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015146:Midwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D021841:Safe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012572:School Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012736:Sex Education / Q000379:methods*; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data