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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Salvador Mora¹, Luz E. Hernandez¹, and Zdzislaw Piotrowski². (1) Confederation of Spanish American Families, 1635 North 37th Avenue, Melrose Park, IL 60160, 708 6811787, Sal@Confederationsaf.com, (2) West Suburban Medical Center, 3 Erie Court, Oak Park, IL 60302

BACKGROUND: Evaluation of abstinence-only-until-marriage education program effectiveness focuses on student knowledge, attitudes and behavioral intentions. Recent research has examined the differential impact of student mediating variables.

PURPOSE: Describe how demographic and home environment characteristics (1) are associated with pre-survey responses and (2) mediate post-survey responses and desired changes.

METHODS: Students (grades 6-12) from 21 schools (9 45 minute sessions) completed a 24-item pre- and post-survey taping knowledge (5 items), attitudes (16) and behavioral intentions (3) using a 5-point Likert scale (Strongly Disagree - Strongly Agree). With questions on age, gender and race/ethnicity, students were asked “Have your parents or guardian ever talked to you about sexual abstinence?” (yes-no); and, “Do you live with” (M&F; M&StepF; StepM&F; M; F; other family member; other). Total and three subscores (knoweldge, atttitudes, behavioral intentions)were used for change analyses with paired/matched (pre-post) surveys. SASV9, using the GLM procedure supplemented descriptive statistics using p<.05 for significance. Cronbach's alphas were 0.85-0.90.

RESULTS: Among 2,183 students (55% girls; 53% 6-8th grade; 89% Hispanic) 63% reported parents talked about sexual abstinence; and, 61% live with two parents. Pre-survey differences were noted for demographic and home environment variables. Statistically significant pre-post changes were observed (total and each subscore). Presence of two parents at home significantly interacted with change scores. And students who reported that parent(s) did not talk to them about sexual abstinence demonstrated larger pre-post change.

CONCLUSION: To maximize desired public health outcomes, instruction may need to be individualized to be more responsive to the classroom student profile.

Learning Objectives:

• Increase participants awareness of and knowledge about the role of the home environment as a mediating factor and its differential impact on the effectiveness of abstinence only education programs.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Sex

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered