AEGiS-14IAC: The effects of a systematically developed photonovella on knowledge, attitudes, communication and behavioural intentions with respect to sexually transmitted diseases of secondary school learners in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

14th International AIDS Conference


Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

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The effects of a systematically developed photonovella on knowledge, attitudes, communication and behavioural intentions with respect to sexually transmitted diseases of secondary school learners in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. D11122)

Reddy SP
Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, South Africa

BACKGROUND: This evaluation determined the effects of a systematically developed photo-novella on knowledge, attitudes, communication and behavioural intentions with respect to sexually transmitted diseases, after a single reading by secondary school learners in Kwazulu - Natal, South Africa.

METHODS: A pre-post test follow up design was used with 1168 learners surveyed at baseline (T1), 867 learners three weeks after the baseline (T2), and 724 learners a further six weeks later (T3). Learners of the randomly allocated intervention group were given Laduma, a print media intervention to read at T2.

RESULTS: Analyses of variance with repeated measures showed that the reading resulted in an increase in knowledge on cause and spread of sexually transmitted diseases, change in attitude to condom use and towards people with STDs and/or HIV/AIDS, as well as increased intention to practice safe sex.

CONCLUSIONS: Print media proved to be an effective strategy to reach large numbers of youth and prepare them for adequate preventive behaviours (positive attitudes and intention to safer sex). However, the study also identified the need to combine print media with other interventions that build confidence and skills to initiate the preventive behaviour. These interventions may be addressed through planned theory based behaviour change programmes.

Keywords: AEGIS, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Attitude, Knowledge, Schools, Communication, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, Intention, Safe Sex, Adolescent Behavior, South Africa, Adolescent, HumanKWDaegis,sexuallytransmitteddiseases,attitude,knowledge,schools,communication,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,hivinfections,intention,safesex,adolescentbehavior,southafrica,adolescent,human

020707
D11122

Copyright © 2002 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.