HIV Prevention Progam Initiated in Liberia

Title: HIV Prevention Program Initiated in Liberia to Test and Evaluate Effectiveness in a School Setting

Subtitle: A Two Year Study Has Commenced in Liberia to Adapt and Evaluate the Efficacy of an HIV Prevention Curriculum for 6th and 7th Grade in-School Liberian Youths.

Summary: A two year study has commenced in Liberia to adapt and evaluate the efficacy of an HIV prevention curriculum for 6th and 7th grade in-school Liberian youths.  Dr. Stephen B. Kennedy, a Research Scientist with the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE)-Louisville Center (USA) and the Principal Investigator (PI) of the study based at the University of Liberia (UL)-PIRE Africa Center in Liberia, oversees its scientific and administrative operations. The study, which is funded by the National Institutes for Health (NIH) of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS), will draw on an evidence-based curriculum, Making Proud Choices (MPC) that is currently being adapted in other Sub-Saharan African countries. The Co-PIs responsible for ensuring the successful implementation and scientific management of this important initiative are Dr. Katherine Atwood, Associate Research Scientist of PIRE-Louisville Center (USA) and Mr. Albert O. Harris of the UL-PIRE Africa Center in Monrovia, Liberia. The study has three aims: (1) Adapt an evidence-based HIV prevention program, designed for community settings in the US, to be delivered in school classrooms in Liberia; (2) Evaluate the impact of the HIV prevention intervention on delaying sexual initiation, increasing condom use and changes in attitudes, intentions and self efficacy; and (3) Assess the characteristics of program implementation fidelity and its relationship to changes in behavioral outcomes.

“Through rigorous evaluation of the adapted HIV prevention curriculum, we hope to reduce sexual risk behaviors of in-school youth in Liberia,” says Dr. Kennedy.  “Working with our Liberian investigators to implement and evaluate this intervention, we expect to continually build the social and behavioral research capacities of Liberian researchers and their research institutions.”

By assessing the curriculum and its impact on behavioral outcomes, the study will advance the field's understanding of the relationship of implementation fidelity and behavior change in resource deprived environments, like Liberia, in order to reduce and prevent HIV/AIDS.  Prevention is critical in this fight against HIV/AIDS since for every person that receives treatment another three people are infected. In other words, we cannot treat our way out of this terrible disease.   It is equally important to evaluate prevention and intervention programs to assess which programs are most effective at preventing HIV/AIDS, especially in a post-conflict, resource-constrained region like Liberia.