Azizi A, Amirian F, Amirian M,
Volume 4, Issue 3 (3-2009)
Abstract
Background & Objectives: The youth group is more prone to HIV infection. Education is a cornerstone to prevention. This study was conducted to compare the efficacy of peer education and traditional lectureship and distribution of pamphlet on high school students.
Methods: 1500 female high school students, third graders, were selected based on stratified random sampling studying in 21 high schools in Kermanshah. In each high school, 73 third grades were selected as the sample of the study. We designed a questionnaire as an assessment tool for interventions. Peer education was done by 502 students, and AIDS awareness pamphlet was distributed on 500 students, and the rest of students were attended a one-day workshop which was ran by a female physician in their high school.
Results: The mean average age was 16.78 (SD= ± 0.7) years. The mean scores of pretest and post-test in each groups were statistically significant different (P=0.0001). Mean score of difference in workshop by female physician was greater than peer education group, 10.7 and 8.8, respectively. The group whome received their knowledge about AIDS by pamphlet obtained the least mean score than other groups and this was statistically significant (P=0.0001).
Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate that educating students by general practitioners is more effective way to increase students’ knowledge about prevention of AIDS.
