Effects of a Rapid Peer-Based HIV/AIDS Educational Intervention on Knowledge and Attitudes of High School Students in a High-Income Arab Country
Effects of a Rapid Peer-Based HIV/AIDS Educational Intervention on Knowledge and Attitudes of High School Students in a High-Income Arab Country
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DOI：
10.1097/qai.0b013e31819c153f
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发表时间：
2009-09-01
影响因子：
3.6
通讯作者：
Yammahi, Amnah Ali
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Barss, Peter;Grivna, Michal;Yammahi, Amnah Ali
Introduction: in response to low knowledge about HIV and intolerant attitudes toward persons living with HIV among Arab university students, a peer-based educational intervention was developed and impact evaluated on knowledge and attitudes, of high school students in 2 of 4 main cities of United Arab Emirates.Methods: Four small teams of final year medical students, 3 female and 1 male, were trained. Multistage random sampling selected 14 female and 5 male Arab schools, then 56 female and 14 male grade 12 classes in Al Ain and Abu Dhabi. The 90-minute intervention included a factual presentation and 3 attitude workshops. Baseline and postintervention knowledge and attitudes were assessed. Significance was tested by McNemar, Wilcoxon signed rank, and multilevel regression tests.Results: Response was 99.6%, 1398 females and 505 males. Misconceptions about modes of transmission and intolerant attitudes were evident. Mean knowledge score improved from 65% to 82% and attitude 51% to 64%, that is, relative increase 26% (P < 0.0005). Females had slightly lower baseline knowledge than males but showed greater improvement in knowledge and attitudes (P < 0.0005)Conclusions: Grade 12 students' knowledge about HIV/AIDS was inadequate and attitudes stigmatising. Peer-based knowledge workshops were effective, especially among females. Concise integrated teaching and workshops designed to address key knowledge and attitudinal deficiencies can be highly effective.
