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Sarah C. Beshers, PhD, Health, SUNY-Cortland, Health Dept./Moffett Bldg., Cortland, NY 13045, (607) 753-2985, besherss@cortland.edu

This investigation is a case study of a program for training peer educators in a multi-component, community-based teen pregnancy prevention program. Research on adolescent peer educators in sexual risk reduction programs is limited. The research questions focused on 1) identifying differences between the peer educators and a matched comparison group that may be related to the overall effectiveness of peer education and 2) exploring the perceptions of the peer educators about the training process, their work, and the ways in which they have been affected by participation in the program. Data were collected via an anonymous written survey, semi-structured interviews, and short written essays. Survey results indicate that the peer educators were significantly more comfortable than the comparison group with talking to other young people about sexual risk reduction, as well as more confident in their abilities to do so well. In other respects, including their knowledge of sexual and reproductive health and several important attitudes towards sexual risk-taking, the peer educators were similar to the comparison group. A qualitative analysis of the interviews identified several common perceptions about the program, as well as several perceived benefits of participation. The most striking and unexpected finding was a high level of support for the LGBT community. Some peer educators identified as straight allies to sexual minority youth. This finding raises new questions about the roles of peer educators as change agents in their communities, not simply to improve adolescent sexual health but to confront and resist anti-gay bias as well.

Learning Objectives: After reading this poster (or listening to this presentation, learners will be able to

• List two ways in which these peer educators differed from a comparison group prior to training;
• Describe how these peer educators believe they have changed as a result of participating in a peer education program;
• Identify two important directions for future research on peer educators in sexual risk reduction programs.

Keywords: Peer Education, Teen Pregnancy Prevention

Related Web page: www.cortland-co.org/health/jacobus/zap.htm

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered