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

Abstract #120857

Gary Svenson, PhD, MSW, MSc, Family Health International/YouthNet, 2101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 700, Arlington, VA 22201, Holly McClain Burke, MPH, Behavioral and Social Sciences, Family Health International, P.O. Box 13950, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, 919-544-7040 ext. 469, hburke@fhi.org, Julia Hasbun, MS, FHI DR/Conecta, Torre Piantini, 7mo. Piso, Calle Gustavo Majia Ricart, Esq Abraham Lincoln., Dominican Republic, and Mwila Mulumbi, RuralNet Associates, P.O. Box 51311, Lusaka, Zambia.

Youth peer education (YPE) is widely used in developing countries for HIV/AIDS prevention and reproductive health (RH). The proliferation of YPE is not considered commensurate with evidence as to its effectiveness. An important reason is that it is difficult to generalize research findings from one program to another. This requires the identification and measurement of the core components operating across programs, settings and cultures.

In Phase 1 of a two-phase effectiveness study, four community-based YPE programs in Zambia and the Dominican Republic (DR) were followed for one year using a descriptive, process evaluation approach. This included measurements of program inputs, outputs and processes. Using an ecological design, processes were measured using 21 focus group discussions with peer educators and 69 in-depth interviews with policymakers, donors, stakeholders, parents and program staff.

The results revealed core components across the YPE programs that centered on cooperation. The most salient finding was that youth-adult partnership was critical to program sustainability and peer educator retention and motivation. The quality of these partnerships was determined by the degree of youth involvement, quality of communication, trustworthiness, mutual respect, support and reciprocity.

This study identified core components operating across programs, settings and culture that influenced YPE productivity and sustainability. YPE utilizes volunteers who are often minors and retention, motivation and productivity is depended upon cooperation between all actors, in particular balanced youth-adult partnerships. These results were used to develop quantitative instruments that are currently being used in a Phase 2 effectiveness study.

Learning Objectives: Participants in this session will be able to

• Describe five core components of youth peer education.
• Apply the findings to understand balanced youth-adult partnerships in their practice and research

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.