Johansson E; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1998; 12: 201 (abstract no. 13581).
Dept. of Comm. Medicin and Public Health, Orebro, Sweden.
ISSUE: Young people are the most important group for information about STDs. School education has a long tradition in Sweden and is always given from a relation/sexuality perspective. Outside school, sport activities are important to youngsters and a special relation is often established between the leader of a team and its members. Can this relation be used for discussions about relationship, sexuality and STDs? PROJECT: A collaboration project between The Department of Community Medicine and Public Health and the Football Federation, Orebro was designed. It contained the following activities: (a) Producing a video film (20 minutes) with some scenes from a football club made by a young film team with young non professional actors-combined with a study book with 20 questions for discussions. (b) Education about facts and methods for STD/HIV information for a team consisting of 4 young men and 2 women as discussion leaders (medium age 23). (c) Video and discussions based on the study book in the football clubs led by 1 or 2 persons from the team. 15-20 boys/girls and their leaders were participating each time. Attitudes and relationships between boys/girls, between the leaders and the youngsters and towards immigrants were discussed together with some questions about sexual knowledge and facts about STDs. (d) Evaluation by a telephone interview with the leaders based on a questionnaire 3 month later. RESULTS: 152 football teams in Orebro county council were invited and 102 jointed the project. 29 did not have any activities for youngsters and 21 did not respond for various reasons, often lack of disposable time. About 1,100 boys and girls attended, most of them between 14-16 years old. The evaluation showed positive effects such as a more open atmosphere, more ethical and moral discussions including attitudes to sex and better understanding of the role as individual and as a member of a team. Leader for other sports such as ice hockey have shown interest for using the same model in their clubs. LESSON LEARNED: Some hesitation was noticed among the leaders towards these sensitive topics. Support from an external discussion leader and matherial is therefore crucial in order to encourage further activities. The method is useful in team sports with establiced groups. The interest for relation issues and sexuality is high among teenagers a fact that makes the discussions easier. The role as a sports leader is well connected with these topics and they are a suitable group of adults in a prevention program towards STDs among young people.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Behavior
- Evaluation Studies
- Female
- HIV Infections
- Humans
- Knowledge
- Male
- Sexual Behavior
- Sexuality
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- Sports
- Students
- Sweden
- Teaching
- education
- methods
- therapy
Other ID:
UI: 102227964
From Meeting Abstracts