Horizons Projects | Programming for HIV Prevention in Thai Schools

HORIZONS PROJECT
Programming for HIV Prevention in Thai Schools

This study examined the outcomes of a school-based HIV/AIDS program for Thai college students. Six teacher training colleges in central Thailand were selected for the study. Second-year students at three of the colleges received the intervention, called the “Teens on Smart Sex” program. The other three colleges served as the control group.

A total of 1,768 students completed a structured questionnaire three times: at baseline, at post-intervention (or four months after baseline), and at four months after post-intervention (or eight months after baseline). A qualitative component was integrated into the study to explore the acceptability and impact of the program on students. Teachers completed a self-administered questionnaire prior to their training and upon completion of teaching the curriculum.

Key findings included:

The program did not increase initiation of sexual activity.
Students already had high levels of knowledge about HIV, and the program improved these levels.
The program improved students’ attitudes about condom use, particularly among females.
Immediately after the program, condom use among females in the intervention group increased.
Male students feel more pressure from friends to engage in sexual activity than do female students; the program did not affect these perceptions of peer pressure.
The program helped increase communication among specific intervention subgroups, but gaps remain. For example, after the intervention activities were implemented, more sexually inexperienced females talked to a boyfriend about HIV/AIDS, and more sexually experienced males talked with a teacher or counselor about HIV/AIDS.
The program improved students’ acceptance of people living with HIV and AIDS.
Teacher training contributed to improvements in teachers' knowledge and attitudes.

Evaluation findings were used to strengthen course activities. The revised course has been scaled up to colleges throughout Thailand using funds from The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Location

Central Thailand

Duration

May 1999–December 2002

Horizons and Population Council researchers

Simon Baker, Philip Guest, Ann McCauley, Patchara Rumakom, Sartsara Srisuman

(For more information about this study, please contact horizons@popcouncil.org.)

Non-Council collaborators

Dennis Dobbs (consultant)

Waranuch Chinvaraksopak, Usasinee Rewthong (Program for Appropriate Technology in Health)

Thailand Department of Education

Donor

US Agency for International Development

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

2003
Baker, Simon, Patchara Rumakom, Usasinee Rewthong, Srisuman Sartsara, Ann McCauley, and Jessica Greene. "Programming for HIV prevention among college students in Thailand," Horizons Research Summary. Washington, DC: Population Council. (PDF)

2001
Stewart, Holley. "Reducing HIV infection among youth: What can schools do?" Horizons Report, Fall. Washington, DC: Population Council. (Contact horizons@popcouncil.org for a copy)

Stewart, Holley, Ann McCauley, Simon Baker, Martha Givaudan, Shegs James, Iwin Leenen, Susan Pick, Priscilla Reddy, Usasinee Rewthong, Patchara Rumakom, and Dilys Walker. "Reducing HIV infection among youth: What can schools do? Key baseline findings from Mexico, South Africa, and Thailand," Horizons Baseline Report. Washington, DC: Population Council. (PDF)

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