IMPACT OF A SCHOOL-BASED AIDS-PREVENTION PROGRAM ON RISK AND PROTECTIVE BEHAVIOR FOR NEWLY SEXUALLY ACTIVE STUDENTS

This project assessed the impact of a school-based AIDS prevention pro gram on student participation in sexual risk and protective behaviors such as use of condoms and use of condoms with foam and intention to p articipate in such behaviors. The paper focuses on students who became sexually active for the first rime between the seventh and eighth gra de(''changers,'' n = 312). The school-based intervention was developed using social cognitive theory and the social influences model of beha vior change. Using an experimental, longitudinal design, 15 high-risk school districts were divided randomly into two treatment (10 district s) and one control (five districts) conditions. Students in both treat ment conditions received a 10-lesson classroom program in the seventh grade with a five-lesson booster in the eighth grade, while control st udents received basic AIDS education (current practice in their distri cts) in compliance with state mandates. Results indicated classroom pr ograms had an impact on certain protective behaviors and on frequency of sexual activity the past month. Post-intervention measures also ind icated the program affected students' intentions to perform specific p rotective behaviors.