What Works for Women and Girls

classes, a total of 16 hours, and measurements were taken from both students andteachers at baseline, immediately upon completion of the course, and four monthspost-intervention. Eleven teachers were also selected from the intervention schools toundergo five days of training. Although baseline measurements showed that studentsin both groups had a high level of prior existing knowledge related to HIV transmissionand risk behaviors, post-intervention assessments showed that students in the interventiongroup had a significantly increased knowledge when compared to students inthe control group. Approval of abstinence increased among males in the interventiongroup, from 54% at baseline, to 81% at the end of the intervention, and finally 73%, atfour months post-intervention. Furthermore, for both males and females a significantincrease was observed in the number of students who reported to believe that abstinencewas a good idea/choice for teenagers. No similar trends were observed in the controlgroup. Intention to abstain, however, was similar in both groups and was maintainedthroughout the study period. Intention to use a condom increased in the interventiongroup from 25% at baseline, to 33%, and finally to 30% post-intervention, while rates forstudents in the control group declined from 25% to a final 23%. In addition, both interventionstudents and control students consistently agreed that forced or coerced sex wasnot acceptable. Finally, intervention students expressed the wish that the course wouldbetter address practical communication skills and peer pressure, while many teachersreported a preference of focusing on the more factual aspects of the curriculum ratherthan on life skills that included decision-making, communication, and assertiveness(Reddy and James, 2003). (Gray III) (adolescents, sex education, abstinence, South Africa)A school health education program in primary school in Uganda sponsored by theUgandan AIDS Commission emphasized improved access to information for health,sexual behavior decision-making and improved peer interaction regarding decisionmakingrelated to HIV/AIDS and sexuality. Students with an average age of 14 yearswere surveyed with a cross-sectional sample and after two years of interventions. Thepercentage of students who stated they had been sexually active fell from 42.9% (123 outof 287) to 11.1% (30 out of 280) in the intervention group, while no significant changewas recorded in a control group (Aggleton et al., 2000). (Gray III) (adolescents, sexuality,sex education, Uganda)A survey in 2001 by the Ministry of Health in Brazil found that 70% of schools carriedout prevention activities with students; 97% of students had correct information onhow AIDS was transmitted; and 90% of students who were sexually active changedtheir behaviors regarding AIDS after exposure to school prevention activities. Brazil hasa low HIV prevalence, with HIV infections well under a third of expected cumulativetotals due to early prevention efforts, early universal treatment and nondiscrimination(Gauri et al., 2007). (Gray IV) (adolescents, sex education, Brazil)A study of 1,581 low-income fourth-graders in Mexico’s marginalized Hidalgo andCampeche States found that a communications-centered life skills program taught bycomprehensively trained teachers in elementary schools improved communication atti-WHAT WORKS FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS123