BECOMING A RESPONSIBLE TEEN

Target Audience: African-American adolescents, ages 14 - 18, and other youth. Length: Eight sessions, 11/2 to 2 hours each. Activities: Interactive group discussions and frequent role-plays that have been created by teens. Two culturally appropriate videos. Teens learn to "spread the word" to their friends about HIV risks. Participants are encouraged to practice skills outside the group and share the results. The group provides creative solutions to reported problems. Components: An implementation manual that includes session outlines, instructions for group leaders, handouts for duplication, consent forms, and general considerations for setting up the program. Theories: Social learning theory and the IMB risk reduction model. Special Consideration: Males and Females are assigned to separate groups that focus on gender-specific skill development and knowledge needs.

Objectives: After completing this program, students will: State accurate information about HIV and AIDS, including means of transmission, prevention, and community impact Clarify their own values about sexual decisions and pressures Demonstrate skills in correct condom use, assertive communication, refusal, information provision, self-management, problem solving, and risk reduction Topics: Information about HIV and AIDS Sexual pressures as they affect adolescents Condom skills Assertiveness skills Communication skills Pesonalization of risk Making decisions about sex or drugs Educating peer and family members about HIV/AIDS

f the youth who were sexually abstinent prior to the intervention, only 11.5% were sexually active one year later compared with 31% of participants in the control groups. Among those sexually active prior to the intervention, 42% of the control group remained so after one year versus only 27% of the intervention group. In comparison to their behavior before the intervention, and in comparison with those in the control group, youth who participated in the intervention were more likely to use condoms, and less likely to engage in unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse.

Despite the fact that both groups received the same basic information component, the intervention group scored higher on the AIDS knowledge test than the control group and maintained that lead across the 12 month follow-up period. Additionally, youth from the intervention group were more skillful than those in the control group in handling pressures to engage in unprotected sex and providing information to peers.

Research Design: Two hundred forty-six adolescents were randomly assigned either to a control condition or to the experimental intervention. The control condition consisted of a single-two hour session that provided information about HIV/AIDS including its nature, prevention, and impact on the local community. Interactive discussions were interspersed with games, activities, and problem solving. The first session of the experimental intervention was identical to the control condition.

Participants completed questionnaires before, immediately after, and at 6 month intervals for one year after the intervention. Of the original 246 participants, 91.5% completed the 12 month follow-up. Measures included HIV risk, sexual behaviors, self-efficacy, attitude toward condoms, and HIV/AIDS knowledge.