High School Aids Prevention Program Compilation & Assessment

Abstract

Background: In the past decade a number of school aids prevention programs adressed to adolescents have been published in Spain. This paper aims to compile, describe and assess these programs. Methods: Aids prevention programs adressed to secondary school students which were published in Spain from 1990 to 1997 were included in the study. The collection of the programs was made by contacting aids prevention heads of national and regional governments. Each program was described in a standardized form and assessed according to the following quality criteria: preventive skills training, teachers or peer delivered, active pedagogical methodology, and at least administered along four sessions. Results: 19 programs were included. Seventy–four percent (n=14) are specific aids prevention programs and 26% (n=5) sexual health programs. Among the aids programs, 57% include skills training, 93% are delivered by teachers, 100% propose active learning methodology and 64% are recommended to be developed in four or even more sessions. Only one of the sexual health programs includes skills training, all of them are delivered by teachers and use active learning methodology and 60% (n=3) are recommended to be applied in four or even more sessions. Conclusions: Nearly all regional governments have developed or adapted secondary school preventive materials. Most of them are aids specific programs. They use active learning methodology and suitable providers, but an important percentage of the programs lack a higher number of sessions and skills training. Programs should include peer-delivered activities.