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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Kaye Sly, PhD and Melvin Davis, PhD. Psychology, Jackson State University, 1400 J.R. Lynch, P.O. Box 17005, Jackson, MS 39217-0105, 601.368.2020, kaye.f.sly@jsums.edu

HIV prevention for African American adolescents: Abstinence vs. comprehensive sex education

Background: This study conducted a head to head comparison of the effectiveness of a comprehensive sex education intervention and an abstinence focused intervention. It was hypothesized that both interventions would produce significant decreases in overall sexual behavior with the abstinence intervention producing a significantly greater decrease than the comprehensive sex education intervention.

Methods: Using a randomized block design, 631 (313 males and 318 females) African American students ages 12-14 from three different middle schools located in a southern state were grouped in two experimental conditions (comprehensive sex education vs. abstinence) and one control condition. All participants completed computer administered questionnaires that assessed their sexual behavior at pre, post, 3, 9, and15 months. Analysis of variance with repeated measures was used to investigate the effect of each condition on sexual behavior over time.

Results: A significant effect across time was observed for both experimental conditions (abstinence and comprehensive sex). However, the effect was not in the expected direction. Participants reported increases in sexual behavior from pre to post, decrease at 3 months, and gradual increases at 9 and 15 months. Thus, both interventions demonstrated a decrease in sexual behavior at 3 months; however the effect faded over time.

Conclusions: There were no significant between group differences for the experimental groups. In addition, there was no significant effect for the control group. Further examination is needed to understand factors that may have mediated the effects of the experimental interventions.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to

• Discuss factors that influence African American adolescent sexual behaviors
• Discuss challenges confronting use of interventions to impact African American adolescent sexual behaviors

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered