Educational Strategy for Training Adolescents as Peer Educators for HIV Prevention

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of an educational strategy based on risk communication in adolescents as peer educators for the prevention of human insufficiency virus (HIV) infection.

Materials and methods: A quasi-experimental mixed-process non-randomized intervention trial with pre-test (before the intervention) and post-test (after). 40 students from six middle and high schools participated, three rural and three urban. Based on a previous diagnosis, the educational strategy and didactic resources were designed. The training lasted 20 hours and addressed issues related to HIV and AIDS, sexuality, relationships, other sexually transmitted infections, gender and equity. The participants' level of knowledge was assessed through a questionnaire and the development of drawings in response to two slogans: How can you become infected with HIV? and draw the behaviors that can protect you from contracting HIV.

Results: After the training, the participants integrated knowledge related to the topics addressed and the average increased to 2.06 points (p <0.00001). Through the development of drawings (after training), the number of participants who drew elements related to blood, sexual and maternal transmission of HIV was increased. Regarding protective behaviors, most drew the use of condoms, although no significant changes were observed. At the end of the training, the participants proposed strategies and teaching materials for peer education later carried out in their schools.

Conclusion: The evidence based educational strategy is a useful strategy for educating and training adolescents as peer educators. It could be replicated to other schools, adapting it to each context.

Keywords: Disease prevention; Human immunodeficiency virus; Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; Health education; Sex education.