Abstract
Objective: The study aimed to examine whether an information leaflet designed to promote self-management of health in adolescents with HIV/AIDS was effective in increasing knowledge about HIV, reducing perceived stigma associated with the disease and increasing sense of control in Zambian school children.
Method: In this cluster randomised controlled trial, 8 schools in the Lusaka region of Zambia were randomised to receive either an English language HIV/AIDS information leaflet (n=156) or a control leaflet (n=186). Inclusion criteria were age 11-16 years and attending Grades 8 or 9 in the study schools. Students were given the leaflet and encouraged to discuss its content with their peers. The leaflets were removed and students completed measures of knowledge, stigma and health locus of control. Researchers analysing the data were blind to leaflet allocation.
Results: Participants receiving the HIV/AIDS leaflet (n=156) had higher levels of knowledge about HIV/AIDS (p< 0.001, Cohen's d'=0.82); a greater sense of control over health (p< 0.05, d'=0.24), and lower levels of stigma associated with HIV/AIDS (p< 0.001, d'=0.55) compared to those receiving the control leaflet (n=186). Better HIV/AIDS knowledge was associated with lower stigma (r = -0.373, p< 0.001) and, controlling for other factors, 21% of variance in stigma scores was accounted for by HIV/AIDS knowledge (p< 0.001).
Conclusion: A brief educational intervention was effective in improving knowledge about HIV/AIDS and reducing stigma in a normal population of Zambian adolescents. The results support the use of the leaflet in peer education and in clinical samples to promote self-care.
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Degun, S., Atkins, E., Menon, A. et al. 160 Cluster Randomised Trial of An Information Leaflet Designed to Promote Self-Management of Hiv/Aids in Zambian Adolescents. Pediatr Res 68 (Suppl 1), 84 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-201011001-00160
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-201011001-00160