181395 An Innovative HIV, STI, and Pregnancy Prevention Program that Works: The “It's Your Game…Keep it Real Program” for Middle School Students

Wednesday, October 29, 2008: 1:30 PM

Susan Tortolero, PhD , Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston, Houston, TX
Christine Markham, PhD , Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston, Houston, TX
Melissa Peskin, PhD , Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston, Houston, TX
Ross Shegog, PhD , Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston, Houston, TX
Robert Addy, PhD , Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston, Houston, TX
Elizabeth Baumler, PhD , Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston, Houston, TX
Background: Teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections are serious public health issues among U.S. adolescents. Effective HIV, STI, and pregnancy prevention interventions at the middle school level are needed to help delay early sexual activity.

Methods: We developed and evaluated an innovative classroom and computer-based HIV, STI, and pregnancy prevention program for middle school students, entitled It's Your Game…Keep it Real (IYG). IYG was evaluated in a randomized controlled trial conducted in 10 Texas urban middle schools. Students completed follow-up surveys administered on laptop computers using A-CASI technology. Measures included sexual behaviors, including oral, anal, and vaginal sex; and psychosocial variables.

Results: Baseline sample was 57.1% female, 43.5% black, 41.9% Hispanic, mean age was 12.5 (SD=0.69) years. At the 9th grade follow-up survey (n=907), 10% of intervention students reported initiation of oral sex compared to 17.58% of control students (OR = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.34, 0.80). Similarly, 3.74% of intervention students reported initiation of anal sex compared to 9.92% of control students (OR = 0.35; 95% CI: 0.19, 0.67). Only 14.79% of Hispanic students in the intervention group reported initiation of vaginal sex compared to 24.05% in the control group (OR = 0.55; CI: 0.32, 0.95). There was a sustained positive impact on beliefs about abstinence, beliefs about sex, and perceived friends' beliefs about sex compared to control students.

Conclusions: IYG is an effective HIV, STI and pregnancy prevention program for middle school students. Programs such as IYG are critical tools in reducing HIV, STI, and pregnancy among early-aged youth.

Learning Objectives:
Attendees will be able to describe the long-term results for an effective HIV, STI, and pregnancy prevention program. Attendees will be able to describe the types of measures used in the evaluation of an HIV, STI, and pregnancy prevention program.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the principal investigator of this study; and I am also an associate professor of behavioral sciences and epidemiology.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Its Your Game, Keep It Real: An Effective Program for Breaking Down the Borders of Traditional HIV Prevention for Middle School Students
See more of: HIV/AIDS