Details:

Alternative Title:
J Adolesc Health
Personal Author:
Markham, Christine M. ; Tortolero, Susan R. ; Peskin, Melissa Fleschler ; Shegog, Ross ; Thiel, Melanie ; ... More +
Markham, Christine M. ; Tortolero, Susan R. ; Peskin, Melissa Fleschler ; Shegog, Ross ; Thiel, Melanie ; Baumler, Elizabeth R. ; Addy, Robert C. ; Escobar-Chaves, Soledad Liliana ; Reininger, Belinda ; Robin, Leah Less -
Description:
Purpose

To evaluate the efficacy of two, theory-based, multi-media, middle school sexual education programs in delaying sexual initiation.

Methods

Three-armed, randomized controlled trial comprising fifteen urban middle schools; 1,258 predominantly African-American and Hispanic 7th grade students followed into 9th grade. Both programs included group and individualized, computer-based activities addressing psychosocial variables. The risk avoidance (RA) program met federal abstinence education guidelines; the risk reduction (RR) program emphasized abstinence and included computer-based condom skills-training. The primary outcome assessed program impact on delayed sexual initiation; secondary outcomes assessed other sexual behaviors and psychosocial outcomes.

Results

Participants were 59.8% female, mean age 12.6 years. Relative to controls, the RR program delayed any type of sexual initiation (oral, vaginal or anal sex) in the overall sample (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.54–0.77), among females (AOR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.31–0.60) and African-Americans (AOR: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.18–0.79). RR students also reduced unprotected sex at last intercourse (AOR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.47–0.96), past three months’ frequency of anal sex (AOR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.33–0.84) and unprotected vaginal sex (AOR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.36–0.95). The RA program delayed any sexual initiation among Hispanics (AOR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.19–0.86), reduced unprotected sex at last intercourse (AOR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.52–0.93) but increased the number of recent vaginal sex partners (AOR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.01–2.82). Both programs positively impacted psychosocial outcomes.

Conclusions

The RR program positively impacted sexually inexperienced and experienced youth; the RA program delayed initiation among Hispanics and had mixed effects among sexually experienced youth.


Subject:
[+]
Adolescent
Adolescents
Article
Child
Educational Technology
Female
Health Education
Hispanic Americans
Humans
Intervention Studies
Male
Pregnancy
Risk Reduction Behavior
Sexual Abstinence
Sexual Behavior
Sexually Transmitted Infection
Urban Population
Urban Populations

Source:
J Adolesc Health. 50(3):279-288.
Pubmed ID:
22325134
Pubmed Central ID:
PMC4882098
Document Type:
Journal Article
Funding:
U48 DP000057/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHS/United States ; 5U48DP000057/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHS/United States ; U48/DP000057/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHS/United States
U48 DP000057/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHS/United States ; 5U48DP000057/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHS/United States ; U48/DP000057/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHS/United States Less -
Collection(s):
CDC Public Access
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:a5d44de274a6fa10fbb6a2052337317f0b953b32dd044669e68b13e75bb4d585
File Type:

Supporting Files

• nihms785421.nxml

  xml

More +