Schoolwide effects of a multicomponent HIV, STD, and pregnancy prevention program for high school students

Few studies have tested schoolwide interventions to reduce sexual risk beha vior, and none have demonstrated significant schoolwide effects. This study evaluates the schoolwide effects of Safer Choices, a multicomponent, behav ioral theory-based HIV, STD, and pregnancy prevention program, on risk beha vior, school climate, and psychosocial variables. Twenty urban high schools were randomized, and cross-sectional samples of classes were surveyed at b aseline, the end of intervention (19 months after baseline), and 31 months after baseline. At 19 months, the program had a positive effect on the freq uency of sex without a condom At 31 months, students in Safer Choices schoo ls reported having sexual intercourse without a condom with fewer partners. The program positively affected psychosocial variables and school climate for HIV/STD and pregnancy prevention. The program did not influence the pre valence of recent sexual intercourse. Schoolwide changes in condom use demo nstrated that a school-based program can reduce the sexual risk behavior of adolescents.