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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Stephanie Mullen, MPH1, Mary C. K. Kumwenda2, Adam Alide2, Phillip Ng'ombaera2, Victor Phiri2, and Frazer Omali2. (1) International Health and Development, Tulane University, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal Street Suite 2200, New Orleans, LA 70112, 504-988-6517, smullen@tulane.edu, (2) Malawi Field Office, Save the Children, P.O.Box 609, Mangochi, Malawi
Introduction: To improve the reproductive and sexual health (RSH) and development of youth (10-25 years) in Mangochi District, Malawi Save The Children (SC) implemented a multi-component program addressing the availability and accessibility of RSH services; improving youth RSH knowledge, attitudes and practices; and creating an enabling social and policy environment. We evaluated the impact of this program on youth knowledge and practices. Methods: We conducted baseline (September 1999) and post-intervention (October 2001) surveys of 1500 youth (10-25 years) in intervention and control villages. We made comparisons between both the pre-intervention and post-intervention data and the intervention and control village data. Results: Knowledge about HIV/AIDS increased among males in the intervention areas (from 88%-93%; p<0.01) more than in the control areas (from 89%-92%; p>0.05). Similarly, knowledge about STIs increased among males in the intervention areas (from 83%-93%; p<0.001) than in the control areas (from 85%-88%; p>0.05). Knowledge of family planning increased significantly among both males (from 60%-71%; p<0.001) and females (from 60%-70%; p<0.01) in the intervention areas, more than in the control areas (males 63%-67%; p>0.05; females 59% to 63%; p>0.05). Condom use increased significantly among males (from 45%-59%; p<0.05) in the intervention areas but actually decreased in the control areas. Abstinence increased significantly among females in the intervention areas (from 8%-16%; p<0.001) but not in the control area (from 12%-15%; p>0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, the intervention contributed to the increase of RSH knowledge among adolescents in Mangochi District and to changes in RSH behavior such as condom use and abstinence.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Adolescents, International, Reproductive Health
Related Web page: www.savethechildren.org
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.