title: AMP!: A Cross-site Analysis of the Effects of a Theater-based Intervention on Adolescent Awareness, Attitudes, and Knowledge about HIV.
abstract: AMP! (Arts-based, Multiple component, Peer-education) is an HIV intervention developed for high school adolescents. AMP! uses interactive theater-based scenarios developed by trained college undergraduates to deliver messages addressing HIV/STI prevention strategies, healthy relationships, and stigma reduction towards people living with HIV/AIDS. We used a pre-test/post-test, control group study design to simultaneously assess intervention effect on ninth grade students in an urban county in California (N = 159) and a suburban county in North Carolina (N = 317). In each location, the control group received standard health education curricula delivered by teachers; the intervention group received AMP! in addition to standard health education curricula. Structural equation modeling was used to determine intervention effects. The post-test sample was 46 % male, 90 % self-identified as heterosexual, 32 % reported receiving free or reduced lunch, and 49 % White. Structural models indicated that participation in AMP! predicted higher scores on HIV knowledge (p = 0.05), HIV awareness (p = 0.01), and HIV attitudes (p = 0.05) at the post-test. Latent means comparison analyses revealed post-test scores were significantly higher than pre-test scores on HIV knowledge (p = 0.001), HIV awareness (p = 0.001), and HIV attitudes (p = 0.001). Further analyses indicated that scores rose for both groups, but the post-test scores of intervention participants were significantly higher than controls (HIV knowledge (p = 0.01), HIV awareness (p = 0.01), and HIV attitudes (p = 0.05)). Thus, AMP!'s theater-based approach shows promise for addressing multiple adolescent risk factors and attitudes concerning HIV in school settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), 302 Rosenau Hall, CB #7440, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7440, USA. ttaggart@email.unc.edu.
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Taggart
authors.affiliation: Art & Global Health Center, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Arianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taboada
authors.affiliation: Art & Global Health Center, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Judith A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.affiliation: Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Norweeta G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Milburn
authors.affiliation: Art & Global Health Center, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gere
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), 302 Rosenau Hall, CB #7440, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7440, USA.|Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Alexandra F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Lightfoot
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002140:California; D004324:Drama; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D060728:Reproductive Health; D013022:South Carolina
keywords: Adolescents; HIV prevention; Sexual health; Stigma reduction