FRONTIERS Projects | Peer Education as a Strategy to Increase Contraceptive Prevalence and Reduce the Rate of STIs/AIDS Among Adolescents in Cameroon

FRONTIERS PROJECT
Peer Education as a Strategy to Increase Contraceptive Prevalence and Reduce the Rate of STIs/AIDS Among Adolescents in Cameroon

The Institute for Behavioral Studies and Research (IRESCO) tested interventions to improve young people’s knowledge and practices regarding sexual and reproductive health and to reduce the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in this population. The project trained peer educators and developed and distributed professional-quality comic books, brochures, and a magazine to educate youth and promote discussion of reproductive health, STIs, and HIV. Youth in the intervention area reported postponing their sexual debut. Fidelity and abstinence increased in the intervention site, and fewer youth reported having multiple sexual partners. In both sites, abstinence was cited second to condoms (used consistently and correctly) as the most effective protection against HIV and AIDS.

Location

Cameroon

Duration

May 2000–August 2002

Non-Council collaborators

Jean Paul Tchupo (Institute for Behavioral Studies and Research [IRESCO])

Donor

US Agency for International Development

Publications/Resources
Council researchers' names appear in boldface type.

2003
"Cameroon: Peer education and youth-friendly media reduce risky sexual behavior," FRONTIERS OR Summary no. 37. Washington, DC: Population Council. (full text)

2002
Institut de Recherche et des Etudes des Comportements (IRESCO). “Peer education as a strategy to increase contraceptive prevalence and reduce the rate of STIs/HIV among adolescents in Cameroon,” FRONTIERS Final Report. Washington, DC: Population Council. (PDF, 1 MB)