Integrating “Abstinence” and “Be Faithful” (AB) into the Life Skills Program in Mpumalanga Province
A Council study developed and evaluated the integration of an abstinence and faithfulness curriculum into an existing school-based life skills program among sixth and seventh graders (aged 10–14) in South African schools.
Three young boys with a certificate from "Dare to Be Different." Photo: Sherry Hutchinson/Population Council
Horizons, in cooperation with local stakeholders and the Mpumalanga Department of Education, conducted a study to explore the feasibility and acceptability of the integration of a life skills curriculum centered around sexual abstinence and faithfulness into the Department of Education’s Life Orientation Program for learners in grades 6 and 7 (aged 10–14) in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa.
As the number of youth being infected with HIV between the ages of 15 and 24 years continues to rise in South Africa, it is important to reach young people with critical prevention messages at younger ages, 10–14 years. During this period, most youth have not engaged in sexual activity and are receptive to messages about abstinence, delaying sex, and faithfulness as positive and achievable behaviors. Many students in South Africa receive a majority of their information on HIV and AIDS through school-based curriculums, therefore school-based programs are an important mechanism to reach youth with HIV prevention messages, including those that focus on AB.
Horizons worked with local stakeholders to develop and pre-test the Dare to Be Different (D2BD) curriculum. Pilot results from three primary schools indicated that this curriculum filled a gap in the Life Skills and HIV and AIDS Education Program and that the D2BD curriculum was accepted by learners, teachers, and parents. An expanded pilot of D2BD was conducted among 1,500 sixth and seventh graders at nine primary schools in Mpumalanga Province in order to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of integrating this curriculum into the existing Life Orientation Program.
Key findings include:
- Teachers and learners feel positive about D2BD.
- Learners want more than just HIV prevention information.
- D2BD enhances the Life Orientation Program.
- D2BD improves parent–child communication.
- Challenges to implementation remain.
Population Council researchers plan to revise the curriculum module based on the pilot’s findings to further improve its acceptability and usefulness among teachers and learners. In 2008, researchers conducted a more rigorous evaluation of D2BD among sixth and seventh grade learners at 30 schools throughout Mpumalanga Province.
'Dare to Be Different': Enhancing life skills education for HIV prevention in South African schools (PDF)
Nelson Sapiano,Tobey; Sohaba,Nathi; Esu-Williams,Eka
Horizons Research Summary
Publication date: 2008
Project Stats
Location: South Africa (Mpumalanga Province)
Program(s):
HIV and AIDS
Topic(s):
HIV prevention
Sexuality education
Duration: 2/2006 - 7/2007
Population Council researchers:
Nkosinathi Sohaba
Non-Council collaborators:
Kenau Swart
Mpumalanga Department of Education
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