A Computer-based HIV and STI Curriculum for Deaf High School Students

描述（由申请人提供）：本计划将利用定性（戏剧测试）和定量数据（前后测试）来开发一个基于计算机的美国手语HIV课程的原型，以满足聋哑高中学生的文化、语言和特殊学习需求。青少年和青壮年感染艾滋病毒的风险很高，而且持续存在。失聪青年由于无法获得听力正常的同龄人通常可以获得的艾滋病毒信息而处于特别危险的境地。这部分是由于他们的阅读水平普遍较低。由于他们的性风险行为、文化规范和学校艾滋病预防计划的不足，聋人青少年感染艾滋病的风险也在增加。最近，我们的研究小组对美国15所聋人高中的700多名聋人学生进行了艾滋病知识和风险行为调查，结果表明，聋人高中的学生艾滋病知识水平低，性行为高风险。学习风格和文化差异以及语言差异（美国手语的使用）使得有必要为这群学生调整课程。目前还没有HIV预防课程可以满足聋人高中学生的具体学习和语言需求。原型课程将改编自以证据为基础的青少年艾滋病毒课程。它将提高对艾滋病毒传播的认识，并发展谈判技巧和决策策略，以减少失聪高中生的风险。原型机将在高中聋哑学生课堂上进行实地测试。通过对学生的知识、技能和态度的前后测试以及可接受性的评估来评估原型的初步有效性。通过实地测试期间收集的定性和定量措施的分析结果，将评估建立以美国手语为基础的全面计算机艾滋病毒课程的可行性和可接受性。这样的HIV课程将满足聋哑学生的特殊学习需求。在这样做的过程中，它还将满足聋哑学生教师对其学生在文化和语言上有针对性的课程的需要。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The proposed project will utilize qualitative (theatre testing) and quantitative data (pre and post tests) to develop a prototype of a computer-based HIV curriculum in American Sign Language to meet the cultural, linguistic and specific learning needs of deaf high school students. Adolescents and young adults are at high and continuing risk of HIV infection. Deaf youth are at particular risk due to lack of access to HIV information commonly available to their hearing age peers. This is, in part, due to their generally low reading levels. Deaf youth are also at increased HIV risk due to their sexual risk behaviors, cultural norms, and inadequate school-based HIV prevention programs. Results from an HIV knowledge and risk behavior survey of over 700 deaf students who attend 15 deaf high schools throughout the US recently conducted by our research team, indicate that students at deaf high schools have low levels of HIV knowledge and engage in high-risk sexual behaviors. Learning style and cultural differences as well as linguistic differences (use of American Sign Language) make it necessary to adapt curricula for this group of students. Currently there are no HIV prevention curricula available that meet the specific learning and language needs of deaf high school students. The prototype curriculum will be adapted from an evidence-based HIV curriculum for youth. It will enhance knowledge about HIV transmission, and develop negotiation skills and decision making strategies for risk reduction among deaf high school students. The prototype will be field tested in classes at high schools for deaf students. Preliminary effectiveness of the prototype will be assessed through pre and post tests of student knowledge, skills and attitudes, and assessment of acceptability. The feasibility and acceptability of creating a full-scale computer-based HIV curriculum in American Sign Language will be assessed though analysis results of qualitative and quantitative measures collected during field testing. Such an HIV curriculum will meet the specific learning needs of deaf students. In doing so, it will also meet the needs of teachers of deaf students for a curriculum culturally and linguistically targeted to their students. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: HIV infection is a continuing problem for youth and adolescents; deaf youth are at particular risk due to their low HIV knowledge, high risk behaviors and lack of appropriate HIV curricula which meet their specific learning, cultural and linguistic needs. The proposed project will develop a prototype of a computer-based HIV curriculum in American Sign Language, adapted from an evidence-based HIV curriculum for youth, to meet the needs of deaf students. When fully developed, this curriculum will enhance knowledge about HIV transmission, and develop negotiation skills and decision making strategies for risk reduction among deaf high school students.