GIRL TALK - DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTERVENTION FOR PREVENTION OF HIV AIDSAND OTHER SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED DISEASES IN ADOLESCENT FEMALES/

The number of adolescent females between the ages of 13 and 19 who are contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is rising at an alar ming rate. Although the issue of STDs has been overshadowed by continu ed public debate over adolescent pregnancy and childbearing, it demand s attention. Particularly concerning is the fact that STDs increase th e likelihood of transmitting HIV (N.E. MacDonald et al., 1990). To off set the growing incidences of STDs among female adolescents, gender-sp ecific interventions are needed. Following is a description of the the oretical underpinnings that informed and guided the development of a g ender-specific intervention titled Girl Talk. A two-stage creation and review process was used to design this 2.5-hr, four-session intervent ion. An overview of the quasi-experimental design that compared a none quivalent comparison and two intervention groups (peer led and adult l ed) is presented. Baseline characteristics of the three groups are rep orted. Also described is how participant feedback and a design content analysis are used to evaluate the appropriateness of the intervention for adolescent females.