14th International AIDS Conference Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. WeOrD1275)

Stewart H, McCauley A, Baker S, Givaudan M, James S, Leenen I, Pick S, Reddy P, Rewthong U, Rumakon P, Walker D
Population Council/Horizons, Washington, DC, United States

BACKGROUND: In Mexico and Thailand, local organizations and educators designed school programs to include elements from programs found to successfully change students' behavior elsewhere, such as interactive teaching methods and the provision of accurate sexual information.

METHODS: About 1880 students at 4 secondary schools in Mexico and 2380 students at 6 colleges in Thailand completed questionnaires before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and 4 to 6 months later. In each site half of the schools received the intervention and half served as controls. Mean age was 16 years in Mexico and 20 years in Thailand.

RESULTS: Sexually active Thai females in the intervention arm increased condom use at last sex from 26% to 37% post-program. Although still higher than baseline, the increase was not significant by the second followup measure. Mexican girls reported an increase in condom use at last sex from 48% at baseline to 58% after the program but the number was too small to calculate the statistical significance of the increase. Females in both sites reported significant increases in confidence to correctly use a condom in the intervention arm (Mexico:18% to 70% to 59%; Thailand: 54% to 83% to 82%). These data were significantly higher than the control in both followup measures. In both sites, males reported more condom use and confidence to use a condom at baseline than females. Although males showed an increase post-intervention, it was not always significant when compared to the control arm. In all measures the percentage fell from the second to the third round of data collection but remained significantly higher than baseline. Among males and females in both countries, there was little change in confidence to persuade a partner to accept condoms.

CONCLUSION: School programs can increase condom use and confidence to use condoms, especially among females. Program refinements are needed to increase confidence to negotiate condoms with a partner.

020707
WeOrD1275

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