5173.1: Wednesday, November 15, 2000 - 2:45 PM

Abstract #8623

Impact of a linked school- and health facility-based reproductive health program on adolescent sexual risk-taking and health-seeking behaviors in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Varja Lipovsek, MPH, International Health, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2200, New Orleans, LA 70112, 504-988-6265, vlipovs@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu

This paper presents findings from an evaluation of a pilot adolescent reproductive health program in the Salvador, Bahia (Brazil) metropolitan area implemented jointly by the State of Bahia Secretariats of Education and Health. The program provided information on adolescent reproductive health issues and life skills training to youth in public secondary schools and “youth friendly” health services at specially designated “reference” health centers. A formal referral system was established between schools and clinics and health service providers assisted in the training of teachers and the delivery of sex education and life skills training in the schools as mechanisms to break down psychosocial barriers to service use. A matched control group quasi-experimental design was used to measure program impact. Six of the ten schools participating in the SEC pilot program were randomly chosen for the evaluation effort, and six non-participating schools matched on the basis of location, size, and socioeconomic level of the student body were chosen as controls. Students who were in the 6th and 8th grades at the time of the baseline survey were followed in the study for nearly three years. Data were provided by three rounds of surveys in project schools and two rounds in control schools.

Learning Objectives: Participants will be exposed to evaluation methodology for assessing impact of a linked school- and health facility-based reproductive health program in Brazil

Keywords: Adolescents, International, School-Based Programs

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA