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Becky L. Genberg, MPH1, Linda M. Kaljee, PhD2, Rosemary Riel, MAA2, Le T.K. Thoa, MD, MPH3, and Le T.H. Tho, MD, MPH4. (1) Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Room E6004, Baltimore, MD 21215, 410-502-0600, bgenberg@jhsph.edu, (2) Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland Baltimore, School of Medicine, 655 West Lombard Street, Suite 311, Baltimore, MD 21201, (3) Ha Noi Medical University, 1 Ton Thiat St., Hanoi, Vietnam, (4) Khanh Hoa Provincial Health Services, 7 Hung Vuong St., Nha Trang, Vietnam
Background: Recent estimates suggest an increase of HIV infections in Viet Nam, with over 50% among youth aged 15-20 years old. Existing sexual and reproductive health education is insufficient. The Vietnamese Focus on Kids (VN-FOK) program teaches youth skills for sexual decision-making, as well as information about HIV/AIDS and condom use. The effectiveness of VN-FOK in Viet Nam has been demonstrated in previous studies. The current study utilizes a randomized-control effectiveness trial to determine the sustainability of increases in HIV/AIDS knowledge and condom self-efficacy over an 18 month post-intervention follow-up period.
Methods: A total 240 youth in four communes in Khanh Hoa Province received the intervention immediately after baseline, while 240 control youth received the intervention after collection of 18 month follow-up data. The intervention consisted of 10 weekly sessions with a trained facilitator. Two communes in the intervention group were also randomized to receive booster sessions after the six-month follow-up. The current study reports on quantitative data collected at baseline, immediate post-intervention, and 6, 12, and 18 month follow-ups.
Results: Through 18-month follow-up, there were observed sustained significant differences between the intervention and control group in both HIV/AIDS knowledge and condom self-efficacy. However while the youth receiving boosters showed a significant difference in knowledge compared to other intervention youth, there were no differences between booster and other intervention youth for condom self-efficacy.
Conclusions: The VN-FOK trial suggests that the program can effectively produce sustained changes in youths’ knowledge and self-efficacy for condom use over an extended period of time.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the learner will be able to
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.