Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #112389

Anbarasi Edward-Raj, PhD, MPH¹, Sybil Baloyi², Pieter Ernst, MD³, and Olubukola Ojuola, MBBS, MPH². (1) International Health, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe, Baltimore, MD 21205, 410-955-3928, aedward@jhsph.edu, (2) World Relief, Rua Jose Mateus 274, Maputo, Mozambique, (3) Vurhonga Child Survival Project, World Relief Mozambique, Rua Jose Mateus 274, Maputo, Mozambique

The burden of AIDS in Mozambican youth is 14.7% with a growing orphan community estimated at 470,000. Since 45% of the population is <15y, innovative community health initiatives are needed to engage the youth in positive behaviors. The study was conducted in 10 villages in Chokwe district, and volunteers were trained to conduct youth clubs to provide health education. Villages were randomly assigned to control and experimental groups that also received support for home gardening activities. Baseline and final assessments on knowledge were made using structured questionnaires on 500 youths 10-19 years. The results demonstrated that educational interventions through youth clubs contributed to significantly higher knowledge on health and nutrition and improved school attendance (> 95%) in both groups. Hygiene and diarrhea prevention: (90% for handwashing, 90% poor hygiene, and 70% contaminated water). At baseline, 90% knew the cause of malaria, but knowledge of prevention and symptoms increased significantly to 70% in both groups after intervention. Similar significant improvements were evident on the causes of malnutrition, (90%), knowledge and symptoms of anemia and Vitamin A deficiency (95%). Higher proportion of children mentioned abstaining from sex to prevent AIDS in the experimental group. In the experimental group 85% planted lettuce, pepper, carrots and onion in their community gardens, compared to <10% of the children in the control groups and 90% of them reported using produce for home consumption. The evidence indicates that targeting youth for behavior change through education in youth clubs is enhanced by motivational incentives like home gardening activities.

Learning Objectives:

• To assess the knowledge of health and nutrition of adolescents participating in youth clubs
• To determine strategies for improving knowledge and sustainable solutions for improving food security

Keywords: Youth, Health Education Strategies

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.