The findings indicate substantial short-to-medium-term effects of exposure to life skills education on certain areas of HIV/STI-related knowledge, confidence to use condoms, and condom use behavior. However, no effects on age at sexual debut or partner reduction were observed. Despite significant increases in condom use at last sex, these levels are only moderate (less than 60 percent for those reporting sexual activity), and thus many youth remain at high risk. Further research is needed to assess whether the observed effects are transitory or long-term in nature, whether the observed behavioral changes have an impact on HIV infection rates among youth, and whether the full implementation of life skills education in all schools in KwaZulu Natal can broaden program impact to also include other sexual behaviors such as delay of sexual initiation and secondary abstinence. The results of this study have implications for the improvement of life skills education in South Africa.

Life skills education should equally emphasize all methods of preventing pregnancy and transmission of STIs and HIV. The results of this study suggest that students who are exposed to life skills education have increased use of condoms, but there was no impact of exposure to life skills education on other sexual behaviors such as age at sexual initiation, abstinence, and number of partners. This may be because the condom use messages are the only ones that students retain or life skills education is focusing on condom use and less on other means of preventing pregnancy, STIs, and HIV.

Life skills education should support secondary abstinence, which is already increasing due to other factors. The results show that secondary abstinence has increased during the study time period. However, this change was not attributable to exposure to life skills education. Youth appear to be practicing secondary abstinence in response to other messages or changes in society, and the Life Skills Programme should help reinforce those changes.

The gap in exposure to life skills education among the different racial groups needs to be further narrowed. In particular, life skills education for black populations needs to be strengthened. While this study shows significant improvement in this area over the two years of the study, the gap persists.

Life skills education should be tailored to the needs of different groups. This study revealed important differences in sexual behaviors by age, sex, and population group. To the extent possible, life skills education should provide appropriate knowledge and skills to these different groups.

See Also

• Population Council – Gender, Family, and Development Program
• Population Council – HIV/AIDS
• Transitions to Adulthood

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