Adaptation of an alcohol and HIV school-based prevention program for teens.
Given the current status of HIV infection in youth in India, developing and implementing HIV education and prevention interventions is critical. The goal for School-based Teenage Education Program (STEP) was to demonstrate that a HIV/AIDS and alcohol abuse educational program built with specific cultural, linguistic, and community-specific characteristics could be effective. Utilizing the Train-the-Trainer model, the instructors (17-21 years) were trained to present the 10 session manualized program to primarily rural and tribal youth aged 13-16 years in 23 schools (N = 1,421) in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh in India. The intervention had a greater impact on girls; girls evidenced greater communication skills and a trend towards greater self efficacy and reduced risk taking behavior. The STEP has been successfully adapted by the community organizations that were involved in coordinating the program at the local level. Their intention to continue STEP beyond extra funding shows that utilizing the local community in designing, implementing and evaluating programs promotes ownership and sustainability.
Chhabra
Rosy
R
Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, 1300 Morris Park Ave, VE Building #5, Room 6B32, Bronx, NY 10461, USA. rosy.chhabra@einstein.yu.edu
Springer
Carolyn
C
Leu
Cheng-Shiun
CS
Ghosh
Shivnath
S
Sharma
Sunil Kumar
SK
Rapkin
Bruce
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D017145:Models, Educational; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012424:Rural Population; D012572:School Health Services; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D055815:Young Adult