Effect of a grade 6 HIV risk reduction intervention four years later among students who were and were not enrolled in the study trial.

PURPOSE

To assess the long-term impact of HIV-prevention interventions delivered to youth before sexual initiation and the effects of interventions delivered in nonstudy settings.

METHODS

A five-group comparison of HIV knowledge, and condom-use skills, self-efficacy, intentions, and practice among 1,997 grade 10 students attending one of the eight government high schools in Nassau, The Bahamas. Group 1 received an HIV-prevention intervention, Focus on Youth in the Caribbean (FOYC), in grade 6 as part of a randomized trial; group 2 received FOYC as part of the regular school curriculum but outside of the trial; group 3 received the control condition as part of the trial; group 4 received the control condition as part of the school curriculum but outside of the trial; and individuals in group 5 (naive controls) were not enrolled in a school receiving FOYC or the control conditon and did not participate in the trial.

RESULTS

FOYC youth compared with the control youth and naive controls had higher HIV knowledge, condom-use skills, and self-efficacy 4 years later. By subgroups, group 1 demonstrated higher HIV/AIDS knowledge than all groups except group 2, higher condom skills than all groups, and higher condom self-efficacy than Naive Controls. Youth in group 2 demonstrated higher HIV knowledge than youth in groups 3-5. Behavioral effects were not found.

CONCLUSIONS

FOYC delivered to grade 6 students continued to have protective effects 4 years later. Positive effects are present among youth who received FOYC as part of the school curriculum but were not enrolled in the trial.