AMP! A Cross site Analysis of the Effects of a Theater based Intervention on Adolescent Awareness, Attitudes, and Knowledge about HIV
AMP! (Arts based, Multiple component, Peer education) is an HIV intervention developed for high school adolescents. AMP! uses interactive theater based scenarios developed by trained college undergraduates to deliver messages addressing HIV/STI prevention strategies, healthy relationships, and stigma reduction towards people living with HIV/AIDS. We used a pre test/post test, control group study design to simultaneously assess intervention effect on ninth grade students in an urban county in California (N 159) and a suburban county in North Carolina (N 317) In each location, the control group received standard health education curricula delivered by teachers; the intervention group received AMP! in addition to standard health education curricula. Structural equation modeling was used to determine intervention effects. The post test sample was 46 male, 90 self identified as heterosexual, 32 reported receiving free or reduced lunch, and 49 White. Structural models indicated that participation in AMP! predicted higher scores on HIV knowledge (p 0.05) HIV awareness (p 0.01) and HIV attitudes (p 0.05) at the post test. Latent means comparison analyses revealed post test scores were significantly higher than pre test scores on HIV knowledge (p 0.001) HIV awareness (p 0.001) and HIV attitudes (p 0.001) Further analyses indicated that scores rose for both groups, but the post test scores of intervention participants were significantly higher than controls (HIV knowledge (p 0.01) HIV awareness (p 0.01) and HIV attitudes (p 0.05) Thus, AMP!'s theater based approach shows promise for addressing multiple adolescent risk factors and attitudes concerning HIV in school settings.
Prevention Science