Effectiveness of a sexual and reproductive health and HIV prevention program for Thai early adolescents: Youth empowerment and participation

Young people are at the center of the HIV/AIDS epidemic globally. Thailand is similar to many other countries in this regard as experiencing a high prevalence of sexually-transmitted diseases among Thai adolescents. Innovative and effective strategies are needed to prevent risk-taking behavior at th...

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Main Authors: Fongkaew W., Viseskul N., Tuanrat W., Fongkaew K., Settheekul S., Jariyalertsak C., McGrath B.B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: 2014
Online Access:http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-80052995143&partnerID=40&md5=e099e068f4d88cb390b7fcf54821f889
http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/handle/6653943832/4396
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Institution: Chiang Mai University
Language: English
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spelling th-cmuir.6653943832-43962014-08-30T02:38:19Z Effectiveness of a sexual and reproductive health and HIV prevention program for Thai early adolescents: Youth empowerment and participation Fongkaew W. Viseskul N. Tuanrat W. Fongkaew K. Settheekul S. Jariyalertsak C. McGrath B.B. Young people are at the center of the HIV/AIDS epidemic globally. Thailand is similar to many other countries in this regard as experiencing a high prevalence of sexually-transmitted diseases among Thai adolescents. Innovative and effective strategies are needed to prevent risk-taking behavior at the earliest period of adolescence before unhealthy patterns are established. The aim of this study was to empower youth leaders in developing and implementing activities for sexual and reproductive health education and HIV prevention among Thai early adolescents, using the youth and adult partnership with schools (YAPS) approach. Twelve schools from three different educational areas in Chiang Mai participated in this participatory action research. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected, using various methods. Results showed that this peer education program was effective in empowering junior youth leaders to conduct peer-led activities with early adolescents in grades 5 to 7. Junior youth leaders developed participatory learning activities and created innovative media materials including cartoon books, websites, radio broadcasting, VCDs and an educational computer game. The scores of HIV/AIDS knowledge and attitudes towards sexual behaviors among target peers significantly increased after implementing peer-led activities in 12 schools (p=.05). The use of partnerships and the participatory process mobilized parents, teachers and school administrators to play a proactive role in sexual education and HIV prevention for early adolescents in schools, resulting in the integration of the program into the school system, thereby assuring its sustainability. 2014-08-30T02:38:19Z 2014-08-30T02:38:19Z 2011 Article 16851994 http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-80052995143&partnerID=40&md5=e099e068f4d88cb390b7fcf54821f889 http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/handle/6653943832/4396 English
institution Chiang Mai University
building Chiang Mai University Library
country Thailand
collection CMU Intellectual Repository
language English
description Young people are at the center of the HIV/AIDS epidemic globally. Thailand is similar to many other countries in this regard as experiencing a high prevalence of sexually-transmitted diseases among Thai adolescents. Innovative and effective strategies are needed to prevent risk-taking behavior at the earliest period of adolescence before unhealthy patterns are established. The aim of this study was to empower youth leaders in developing and implementing activities for sexual and reproductive health education and HIV prevention among Thai early adolescents, using the youth and adult partnership with schools (YAPS) approach. Twelve schools from three different educational areas in Chiang Mai participated in this participatory action research. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected, using various methods. Results showed that this peer education program was effective in empowering junior youth leaders to conduct peer-led activities with early adolescents in grades 5 to 7. Junior youth leaders developed participatory learning activities and created innovative media materials including cartoon books, websites, radio broadcasting, VCDs and an educational computer game. The scores of HIV/AIDS knowledge and attitudes towards sexual behaviors among target peers significantly increased after implementing peer-led activities in 12 schools (p=.05). The use of partnerships and the participatory process mobilized parents, teachers and school administrators to play a proactive role in sexual education and HIV prevention for early adolescents in schools, resulting in the integration of the program into the school system, thereby assuring its sustainability.
format Article
author Fongkaew W.
Viseskul N.
Tuanrat W.
Fongkaew K.
Settheekul S.
Jariyalertsak C.
McGrath B.B.
spellingShingle Fongkaew W.
Viseskul N.
Tuanrat W.
Fongkaew K.
Settheekul S.
Jariyalertsak C.
McGrath B.B.
Effectiveness of a sexual and reproductive health and HIV prevention program for Thai early adolescents: Youth empowerment and participation
author_facet Fongkaew W.
Viseskul N.
Tuanrat W.
Fongkaew K.
Settheekul S.
Jariyalertsak C.
McGrath B.B.
author_sort Fongkaew W.
title Effectiveness of a sexual and reproductive health and HIV prevention program for Thai early adolescents: Youth empowerment and participation
title_short Effectiveness of a sexual and reproductive health and HIV prevention program for Thai early adolescents: Youth empowerment and participation
title_full Effectiveness of a sexual and reproductive health and HIV prevention program for Thai early adolescents: Youth empowerment and participation
title_fullStr Effectiveness of a sexual and reproductive health and HIV prevention program for Thai early adolescents: Youth empowerment and participation
title_full_unstemmed Effectiveness of a sexual and reproductive health and HIV prevention program for Thai early adolescents: Youth empowerment and participation
title_sort effectiveness of a sexual and reproductive health and hiv prevention program for thai early adolescents: youth empowerment and participation
publishDate 2014
url http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-80052995143&partnerID=40&md5=e099e068f4d88cb390b7fcf54821f889
http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/handle/6653943832/4396
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