title: Reducing the risk of HIV/AIDS in African American college students: an exploratory investigation of the efficacy of a peer educator approach.
abstract: This study explores the impact of a peer-led HIV intervention, based on the health belief model and social cognitive theory of behavior change, on a sample of African American college students. Certified peer educators were trained by the researcher to implement the four-module HIV prevention intervention. Pre-/postassessments revealed that after the intervention, students were less embarrassed to put a condom on themselves or on their partner, were more likely to use a condom, and ask their sex partner if they had ever been tested for HIV. It was concluded that peer education, which focuses on susceptibility, severity, benefits, self-efficacy (components of the health belief model), skill building, and peer influence (social cognitive theory) is an effective strategy in reducing HIV risk behaviors among African American college students.
authors.affiliation: 1Howard University, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Denyce S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Calloway
authors.forename: Deneen N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Long-White
authors.forename: Dennis E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Corbin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Black/African American; HIV/AIDS; behavior change; health education; health promotion; minority health; university/college health