title: Using peer education to increase sexual health knowledge among West African refugees in Western Australia.
abstract: Ten bilingual West African peer educators conducted a 3-hour workshop on sexual health for small groups of West African refugees (N = 58) who recently had settled in Perth, Western Australia. There were significant increases in the participants' knowledge of sexually transmitted infections and HIV, how these infections are spread, and how to protect against infection. In addition, attitudes toward condom use became more positive. We conclude that the peer-education approach was successful in assisting a new and emerging community to work effectively on sexual health topics generally considered "taboo" or too sensitive to discuss.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. p.drummond@murdoch.edu.au
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Drummond
authors.forename: Ayse
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mizan
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brocx
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wright
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000354:Africa, Western / Q000208:ethnology; D000368:Aged; D044383:Black People; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010379:Peer Group; D012036:Refugees / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012736:Sex Education / Q000379:methods*; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014838:Volunteers / Q000193:education; D014904:Western Australia; D055815:Young Adult