Program Preventing HIV/AIDS, Other STIS and teen pregnancy using the group-based comprehensive risk reduction intervention for adolescent Essay

EVIDENCE-BASED PUBLIC HEALTH
OJUKWU SOMTOCHUKWU G.
Program Preventing HIV/AIDS, Other STIS and teen pregnancy using the group-based comprehensive risk reduction intervention for adolescent
Link http//www.thecommunityguide.org/hiv/RRriskreduction.html
Review of the program
The program was a group-based, comprehensive risk reduction intervention for adolescents between the ages of 10-19. It was primarily directed at promoting sexual behaviors that reduce the incidence of HIV, other STIs and teen pregnancy among the target population. The program provided a platform for health education and provision of services to guide this change. The interventions recommended a spectrum of acceptable behavior from abstinence at one end of the spectrum to limiting sexual partners at the other end without particularly favoring any adoption of behavior as superior over the other.
Evidence provided by the program's success
The community preventive services task force carried out a thorough metanalysis that identified 62 studies and 83 study arms that adopted the comprehensive risk reduction interventions. Based on the results from the analysis the task force recommended that the program can have a beneficial effect on public health. Below is an excerpt from the study that shows a summary of statistics for outcome measured in the analysis. Chin HB et al (2012).
Metaanalysis results Comprehensive risk reduction
OUTCOMES # OF OBSERVATIONS ODD RATIOS 95% CONFIDENCE INTERVAL ESTIMATED RELATIVE RISK
Sexual activity 57 0.84 0.75-0.95 0.88
Frequency of sexual activity 14 0.81 0.72-0.95 b
Number of partners 28 0.83 0.74-0.93 0.86
Unprotected Sexual activity 29 0.70 0.60-0.82 0.75
Protection 63 1.39 1.19-1.62 1.13
Condom use 48 1.45 1.20-1.74 1.12
Oral contraceptive use 10 1.29 0.89-1.85 1.22
Dual use 5 1.21 0.70-2.12 1.17
Sexually transmitted infections 8 0.65 0.47-0.90 0.69
Pregnancy 11 0.88 0.60-1.30 0.89
The above table which is an excerpt from the review by the task force shows some statistically significant results in the desired behavior change. Also, other significant revealed findings were
The programs utility cut across most youth ranging from 10-19 years, ethnicities, schools, communities, gender, virgin and non-virgin population. Though the intervention seems stronger in boys than girls and youth at high risk for STI Contraction.
However, not much evidence was documented for the prevention of HIV and pregnancy prevention and also due to variations of result from various studies. The program was recommended as sufficient evidence rather than a strong evidence in fulfilling its objective
The theory model used in the program
The health belief model was the primarily model adapted for the programs intervention. The model is an interpersonal intervention of the social ecology of health that seeks to change and predict health-related behaviors, particularly in regards to the uptake of health services. Janz, Nancy K. Marshall H. Becker (1984).
The theory constructs involved the Increase in perceived susceptibility and perceived severity among this age group through health education and stating the consequences of risky sexual behavior. The perceived benefits of engaging in healthy sexual behavior and also providing information and allaying the fears of this group in other to reduce the perceived barriers to seeking health services.