title: Gender-Focused HIV and Pregnancy Prevention for School-Going Adolescents: TheMpondombiliPilot Intervention in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
abstract: This pilot study evaluated a 15 session classroom intervention for HIV and pregnancy prevention among grade 8-10 boys and girls (ages 14-17) in rural South Africa, guided by gender-empowerment theory and implemented by teachers, nurses, and youth peer educators. Pre- and post-intervention surveys included 933 male and female students in two intervention and two comparison schools.
  
  
  RESULTS
  condom use at last sex; secondary outcomes: partner communication; gender beliefs and values; perceived peer behaviors; self-efficacy for safer sex. At five months post-intervention, change in condom use did not differ between intervention and comparison schools. Intervention school youth had greater increases in self-efficacy for unsafe sex refusal [OR=1.61; 95% CI=1.01, 2.57] and condom use [OR=1.76; 95% CI=1.07, 2.89], partner communication [OR=2.42; 95% CI=1.27, 4.23], and knowledge of HIV testing opportunities [OR=1.76; 95% CI=1.08, 2.87]. This gender-focused pilot intervention increased adolescents' self-efficacy and partner communication, and has potential to improve preventive behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, School of Public Health, Brown University and Population Studies and Training Center, Providence, RI, USA.
authors.forename: Abigail
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.affiliation: HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Joseph L. Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Susie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.affiliation: HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Joanne E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Mantell
authors.affiliation: MatCH, University of the Witwatersrand, Durban, South Africa; School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.affiliation: HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Department of Biostatistics, Joseph L. Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Cheng-Shiun
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Leu
authors.affiliation: HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Theresa M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Exner
authors.affiliation: HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Zena A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Stein
keywords: HIV prevention; South Africa; adolescents; gender; pregnancy; school-based intervention