Keepin' it R.E.A.L. Mother-Adolescent HIV Prevention Program
An Evidence-Based Practice
Description
Two HIV prevention interventions were administered to mothers and their 11-14 year-old children. Participants were recruited from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta and were predominantly African American. One intervention group received an intervention based on Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), and the other intervention group received an intervention based on Life Skills Program (LSK) based on problem behavior theory. Each intervention group met seven times for two-hours over a 14-week period and were compared to a control group, which met once.
For the SCT intervention, mothers and adolescents attended sessions which included lectures, exercises, and discussions on HIV transmission and protection, sexual decision-making and contraceptives, living with HIV, communication skills, and values.
Mothers and adolescents in the LSK intervention attended session which included relaxation and reflection exercises, along with discussions about high-risk behaviors, such as parenting problems and issues, smoking, alcohol and drug use, violence, and early sexual intercourse.
For the control group, participants attended a one-hour HIV prevention session, which consisted of a 20-minute videotape regarding HIV transmission and prevention, followed by a discussion on risk and prevention.
For the SCT intervention, mothers and adolescents attended sessions which included lectures, exercises, and discussions on HIV transmission and protection, sexual decision-making and contraceptives, living with HIV, communication skills, and values.
Mothers and adolescents in the LSK intervention attended session which included relaxation and reflection exercises, along with discussions about high-risk behaviors, such as parenting problems and issues, smoking, alcohol and drug use, violence, and early sexual intercourse.
For the control group, participants attended a one-hour HIV prevention session, which consisted of a 20-minute videotape regarding HIV transmission and prevention, followed by a discussion on risk and prevention.
Goal / Mission
The goals of this intervention were to delay initiation of sexual intercourse for youth who are not sexually active, encourage the use of condoms among sexually active youth, and enhance communication about sex between youths and their mothers.
Impact
Keepin' It R.E.A.L. teen participants increased their condom-use during sexual activity while maternal participants reported feeling more comfortable when discussing sexual issues with their teens.
Results / Accomplishments
The primary analyses showed no difference among groups in abstinence rates for adolescents. However, adolescents in the LSK group demonstrated an increase in the condom use rate (p<0.05). Those in the SCT and control groups scored higher on HIV knowledge than those in the life skills group. Mothers across all groups showed substantial increases over time in comfort talking about sex and self-efficacy (p<0.05). Regarding HIV knowledge, mothers in the SCT group scored significantly higher than those in the LSK and control groups (p<0.05).
About this Promising Practice
Organization(s)
Emory University and Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta
Primary Contact
Ken Resnicow, Ph.D
Department of Health Behavior and Health Education
867 SPH I
1415 Washington Heights
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
(734) 647-0212
kresnic@umich.edu
https://sph.umich.edu/faculty-profiles/resnicow-ke...
Department of Health Behavior and Health Education
867 SPH I
1415 Washington Heights
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
(734) 647-0212
kresnic@umich.edu
https://sph.umich.edu/faculty-profiles/resnicow-ke...
Topics
Health / Adolescent Health
Health / Family Planning
Health / Family Planning
Organization(s)
Emory University and Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta
Source
Nursing Research
Date of publication
Jan 2006
Date of implementation
1996
Geographic Type
Urban
Location
Atlanta
For more details
Target Audience
Teens
Additional Audience
African Americans