UNICEF released this report to present the evidence on effectiveness of HIV prevention, treatment, and care interventions among adolescents. Adolescents face specific barriers in accessing interventions due to community service provider attitudes towards sexual activity among adolescents, and government laws and policies, among other factors. Â The report presents results from a systematic review of quality systematic reviews to present evidence on the most effective way to deliver and design adolescent-targeted HIV prevention interventions.
Relevant results found are outlined below:
- In-school HIV prevention education interventions targeting adolescents were found to have mixed results for showing effectiveness.
- Evidence showed that in-school interventions did not increase sexual debut, sexual activity, or sexual risk-taking behavior.
- Evidence showed that in-school interventions usually increased knowledge, attitudes, and skills.
- Evidence showed that in-school interventions had a varied impact on reported sexual behaviors.
- There was little evidence that peer education programs had an impact on reported sexual behaviors.
- Evidence showed that in-school interventions did not have a significant impact on biological outcomes.
The report found that more successful in-school interventions shared the following key characteristics: trained adult facilitators, multiple-session programs, skills and knowledge-building activities included in the curricula, and context-specific programmatic designs.