Effectiveness of Abstinence Only: Comprehensive Sexual Education Program for African American Youth at Elevated Risk
Kim Vaz, Women's Studies and Cheryl Rodriguez, Anthropology, working with the Greatness Attitude Potential Program (GAPP).
Description:
This study will partner two USF programs and the Greatness Attitude Potential Program (GAPP) to assess the effectiveness of two types of sexual education curricula - abstinence-marriage only and comprehensive sexual education - on the sexual risk-taking behavior of 10-14 year old African American offspring of teenage parents who live in Pinellas County. In Pinellas County in 2003, African American adolescents 10-14 were twice as likely to give birth and more likely to contract sexually transmitted diseases than their White counterparts.
The Pinellas County Schools’ “Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey” for 10-graders show Black students are more likely to have initiated sexual activity at younger ages and have had more partners. These factors point to the need for sexual education programs in African American communities that will enhance preventive factors. Two groups of 45 African American adolescents 10-14 will be recruited. Outcome measure will include self-reported sexual intercourse, condom use, and unprotected sexual intercourse. GAPP staff members who live and work in the community will recruit subjects. Outcome measures will be controlled statistically with appropriate tests such as analysis of covariance.
Contact Person: Kim Vaz
Funding for Academic Year: 2004-05