Gender-Focused HIV and Pregnancy Prevention for School-Going Adolescents: The Pilot Intervention in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Overview

Journal J HIV AIDS Soc Serv

Specialty Infectious Diseases

Date 2016 Sep 20

PMID 27642267

Citations 14

Authors

Abigail Harrison

Susie Hoffman

Joanne E Mantell

Jennifer A Smit

Cheng-Shiun Leu

Theresa M Exner

Zena A Stein

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Main Outcome: condom use at last sex; secondary outcomes: partner communication; gender beliefs and values; perceived peer behaviors; self-efficacy for safer sex. At five months post-intervention, change in condom use did not differ between intervention and comparison schools. Intervention school youth had greater increases in self-efficacy for unsafe sex refusal [OR=1.61; 95% CI=1.01, 2.57] and condom use [OR=1.76; 95% CI=1.07, 2.89], partner communication [OR=2.42; 95% CI=1.27, 4.23], and knowledge of HIV testing opportunities [OR=1.76; 95% CI=1.08, 2.87]. This gender-focused pilot intervention increased adolescents' self-efficacy and partner communication, and has potential to improve preventive behaviors.

Citing Articles

Gender-transformative HIV and SRHR programme approaches for adolescents and young people: a realist review to inform policy and programmes.

Gourlay A, Walker D, Singh S, Mata M, Birdthistle I BMJ Glob Health. 2025; 9(12).

PMID: 39931920 PMC: 11664354. DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-014363.

Evidence and gap map report: Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) interventions for strengthening HIV prevention and research among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Bose D, Hundal A, Singh S, Singh S, Seth K, Ul Hadi S Campbell Syst Rev. 2023; 19(1):e1297.

PMID: 36911864 PMC: 9831290. DOI: 10.1002/cl2.1297.

Masibambane-Ladies Chat: Developing an Online Gender-Enhanced PrEP Information-Motivation Workshop for Young South African Women.

Hanass-Hancock J, Bhengu N, Exner T, Magusthwa S, Harrison A, Dolezal C AIDS Educ Prev. 2023; 35(1):14-35.

PMID: 36735226 PMC: 10847036. DOI: 10.1521/aeap.2023.35.1.14.

"Men Rule… this is the Normal Thing. We Normalise it and it's Wrong": Gendered Power in Decision-Making Around Sex and Condom Use in Heterosexual Relationships Amongst Adolescents and Young People in South Africa.

Duby Z, Bergh K, Jonas K, Reddy T, Bunce B, Fowler C AIDS Behav. 2022; 27(6):2015-2029.

PMID: 36441410 PMC: 10149448. DOI: 10.1007/s10461-022-03935-8.

Perceived Facilitators and Barriers to Participating in a Combination Income-Generating HIV Risk-Reduction Intervention Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Nigeria: A Qualitative Study.

Nwaozuru U, Tijani W, Gbajabiamila T, Obiezu-Umeh C, Uzoaru F, Ezechi O Front Reprod Health. 2022; 3:560908.

PMID: 36304036 PMC: 9580812. DOI: 10.3389/frph.2021.560908.

References

Gupta G . Gender, sexuality, and HIV/AIDS: the what, the why, and the how. Can HIV AIDS Policy Law Rev. 2002; 5(4):86-93. View

Ross D, Changalucha J, Obasi A, Todd J, Plummer M, Cleophas-Mazige B . Biological and behavioural impact of an adolescent sexual health intervention in Tanzania: a community-randomized trial. AIDS. 2007; 21(14):1943-55. DOI: 10.1097/QAD.0b013e3282ed3cf5. View

Wallerstein N, Bernstein E . Empowerment education: Freire's ideas adapted to health education. Health Educ Q. 1988; 15(4):379-94. DOI: 10.1177/109019818801500402. View

Hoffman S, OSullivan L, Harrison A, Dolezal C, Monroe-Wise A . HIV risk behaviors and the context of sexual coercion in young adults' sexual interactions: results from a diary study in rural South Africa. Sex Transm Dis. 2005; 33(1):52-8. DOI: 10.1097/01.olq.0000187198.77612.d8. View

Wingood G, Scd , DiClemente R . Application of the theory of gender and power to examine HIV-related exposures, risk factors, and effective interventions for women. Health Educ Behav. 2000; 27(5):539-65. DOI: 10.1177/109019810002700502. View

Mantell J, Harrison A, Hoffman S, Smit J, Stein Z, Exner T . The Mpondombili Project: preventing HIV/AIDS and unintended pregnancy among rural South African school-going adolescents. Reprod Health Matters. 2006; 14(28):113-22. DOI: 10.1016/S0968-8080(06)28269-7. View

Kim C, Free C . Recent evaluations of the peer-led approach in adolescent sexual health education: a systematic review. Int Fam Plan Perspect. 2008; 34(2):89-96. DOI: 10.1363/ifpp.34.0089.08. View

Dunkle K, Jewkes R . Effective HIV prevention requires gender-transformative work with men. Sex Transm Infect. 2007; 83(3):173-4. PMC: 2659081. DOI: 10.1136/sti.2007.024950. View

Jaspan H, Flisher A, Myer L, Mathews C, Seebregts C, Berwick J . Brief report: methods for collecting sexual behaviour information from South African adolescents--a comparison of paper versus personal digital assistant questionnaires. J Adolesc. 2006; 30(2):353-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2006.11.002. View

10.

Luke N . Age and economic asymmetries in the sexual relationships of adolescent girls in sub-Saharan Africa. Stud Fam Plann. 2003; 34(2):67-86. DOI: 10.1111/j.1728-4465.2003.00067.x. View

11.

Harrison A, Cleland J, Frohlich J . Young people's sexual partnerships in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: patterns, contextual influences, and HIV risk. Stud Fam Plann. 2009; 39(4):295-308. PMC: 3848499. DOI: 10.1111/j.1728-4465.2008.00176.x. View

12.

Govender S, Edwards S . Appreciative inquiry into lifeskills-based HIV/AIDS education in South African schools. Afr J AIDS Res. 2015; 8(1):115-21. DOI: 10.2989/AJAR.2009.8.1.12.725. View

13.

Kirby D, Obasi A, Laris B . The effectiveness of sex education and HIV education interventions in schools in developing countries. World Health Organ Tech Rep Ser. 2006; 938:103-50. View

14.

Gallant M, Maticka-Tyndale E . School-based HIV prevention programmes for African youth. Soc Sci Med. 2004; 58(7):1337-51. DOI: 10.1016/S0277-9536(03)00331-9. View

15.

Exner T, Dworkin S, Hoffman S, Ehrhardt A . Beyond the male condom: the evolution of gender-specific HIV interventions for women. Annu Rev Sex Res. 2004; 14:114-36. View

16.

Jewkes R, Morrell R, Christofides N . Empowering teenagers to prevent pregnancy: lessons from South Africa. Cult Health Sex. 2009; 11(7):675-88. DOI: 10.1080/13691050902846452. View

17.

Harrison A . Hidden love: sexual ideologies and relationship ideals among rural South African adolescents in the context of HIV/AIDS. Cult Health Sex. 2008; 10(2):175-89. DOI: 10.1080/13691050701775068. View

18.

Moyo W, Levandowski B, MacPhail C, Rees H, Pettifor A . Consistent condom use in South African youth's most recent sexual relationships. AIDS Behav. 2008; 12(3):431-40. DOI: 10.1007/s10461-007-9343-3. View

19.

Mathews C, Aaro L, Grimsrud A, Flisher A, Kaaya S, Onya H . Effects of the SATZ teacher-led school HIV prevention programmes on adolescent sexual behaviour: cluster randomised controlled trials in three sub-Saharan African sites. Int Health. 2013; 4(2):111-22. DOI: 10.1016/j.inhe.2012.02.001. View

20.

Kaufman C, De Wet T, Stadler J . Adolescent pregnancy and parenthood in South Africa. Stud Fam Plann. 2001; 32(2):147-60. DOI: 10.1111/j.1728-4465.2001.00147.x. View