Recorded presentation

Denise Kohn, MPH, Program Officer, International Planned Parenthood Federation/Western Hemisphere Region, 120 Wall Street, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10005-3902, (212) 214-0285, dkohn@ippfwhr.org

In collaboration with peer promoters, INPPARES designed Fuerza Joven (Youth Force) a strategy to reach teachers, parents and students. The model, which was tested with youth, parents and teachers, was implemented in eight schools in Peru. The course includes four sessions for adults, four sessions for students, and one session with adults and students together. The curriculum was evaluated among youth using control and intervention schools. Pre- and post-course questionnaires revealed statistically significant improvements in knowledge, attitudes and intent to practice among program participants compared to the controls. Among youth in Fuerza Joven, those correctly identifying condom use increased by 35%, while in the control schools there was a 6% increase in the number of youth who could identify how to use a condom. Pre- and post-course questionnaires were used among adults in intervention schools, which showed significant changes. At baseline 23% of adults believed that young people should have access to contraceptive methods; after the intervention, this number increased to 58%. Fuerza Joven is an effective sexuality education intervention that could be replicated in other countries. Fuerza Joven experienced obstacles with low participation of parents and the informal commitment of the schools’ principals. These problems were overcome with letters to parents, motivating parents through their children, follow-up telephone calls to remind parents of the upcoming sessions, and signing formal agreements with participating schools.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to identify a model for providing sexuality education to adults and youth in schools.

Keywords: Adolescents, International,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Instituto Peruano de Paternidad Responsable (INPPARES), Peru
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.

Recorded presentation